RSL vs. Colorado Rapids Recap

Wow, what a game. This is why I love soccer. You sit in your house for 60 minutes while your team gets closer and closer to missing the playoffs and then in the 90th minute, your on-fire striker nets the game tying goal which sends RSL to the playoffs and retains the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Rimando had an excellent game. Again, he had a nice regular season but won't get recognized for it. I was a little worried when we had a 2-5-3 for the last several minutes, but I think Kries knew what he was doing when he took off the defensive players and added Findley, Williams and Russell. I think this is the reason we brought in Russell, to play D, but be an offensive threat as well, which he was. I think Russell had an awesome game. I don't think I have seen a worst half than the first half. We couldn't do anything right. As far as the controversial PK - life goes on. We have been the beneficiary of many poor calls but we have to move on. I don't think Colorado played an exceptional game either, but they have come along way. At the beginning and middle of the season, they were terrible. They have a very dynamic team and I think we got a little bit lucky, but sometimes that is what it takes to make magic happen.

Up next is Chivas USA. They are a great team, but they are kind of in a slump. After losing their starting goalie because of a red card, they will have to use their backup goalie. Another key player, Sasha Victorine, is out with injury. Former RSL striker, Alecko Eskandarian is playing very well. Former RSL players Carrey Talley and Atiba Harris also contribute to the Chivas play. Surely all three players will want to bury RSL in the first leg. Remember Chivas is the only team to actually beat RSL in Salt Lake. However, also remember that the first road win for RSL was at Chivas. It will be a showdown in both legs. I can see RSL coming out on fire because the will have reached their goal of the playoffs. I don't think they will be nervous.

Prediction:
1st leg - RSL 3 Chivas 1
2nd leg - RSL 1 Chivas 1

RSL advance 4-2 aggregate

What are your predictions?

RSL vs. New York

After having a good nights sleep I feel prepared to tackle this game. First and foremost, I am disappointed with not just the team, but a couple other factors. Lets start with the team:

Findley - What has Jason thinking bringing him on in the second half. He did absolutely nothing except turn the ball over. I don't think Russell did anything, but at least he could hold the ball.

Williams - RSL could have really used him out there. I think RSL could have scored two or three more goals if he was in.

Other than that, it was good to see Dema back. I think RSL played probably one of the worst games of the season. I think if they would have played this way on the road, they would have been smoked. They played too many balls over the top and the one time they did get on over, Yura dribbled too many times and let all the D get back to clear his shot off the line. He also hit right to the feet of the only guy standing there.

I also admit I was disappointed in the south section. I know they were yelling and cheering and chanting, but I was in the NE corner and I couldn't hear them at all. Maybe the wind held there noise in the south section, but I couldn't hear them at all. I think the atmosphere was good though, considering 70% of the people around me had never even been to a soccer game, let alone an RSL game.

And now the stadium - AWESOME. It is such a nice facility. I love it. I am very disappointed with the service though. I stood inline for a hot dog for 20 minutes at 7:00. Not bad if there were 50 people in front of me, but there were only 5 people. WOW - terrible service. My wife stood inline for 30 minutes for the roasted almonds. I am also mad they don't give fountain drinks, just cheap 20 oz. bottles = LAME.

And finally, I am really disappointed the only souvenir for the game was the small flag and cheap towels. Can't the print they same info on a T-shirt, charge 10 bucks and everyone is happy. How about a new scarf? And don't you think it would have been a top priority to get the shop in the NE corner open to sell all the RSL goods, instead of just the jerseys at the kiosks. They would have made a killing if the shop was open.

Now that I am done ranting, let's be honest. It was a fabulous game. We didn't get the result we were looking for, but the we were all entertained.

Soccer Jerseys

So I got an idea from another blog I read. The blog writer was a drummer and so he had everyone post their drum kits in the comments. I want to do a similar thing - but with soccer jerseys. I don't have any pictures yet, but here is a list of my jerseys with background.

03-05 Sheffield Wednesday Away - I got this jersey because there was a player named Steven Haslam who played for them. I got his name and number on the back because my last name is Haslam too. I got the idea because I have a friend with the last name of Owen and he had a Micheal Owen England Jersey so I search online and found there was Steven Haslam playing for Sheffield Wednesday so I got his jersey.

05 Real Salt Lake Away - I got this jersey while I was living in LA. I was on an LDS mission and found out from a member that Salt Lake had a professional soccer team. I wrote my dad and told him to send me a jersey so he did.

05 Real Salt Lake Home - I got this one in LA too. I loved my RSL away jersey so much that I had to get a home one too.

08 Real Salt Lake Home - I got this one this year because I was tired of having the original jerseys and decided to upgrade.

06-07 Real Madrid Home - My parents went to Madrid in 06 and I had them pick up this jersey for me, which is cool because it came from a Real Madrid shop. My dad said it was like walking into Fanzz but instead of all different teams, it was all Real Madrid. He also said he asked the clerk if they had an XXL and the guys eyes got real big and said in broken English "Big Boy" then went and got it from the back. I guys there aren't too many 6'4" 275 lbs guys in Spain. This is probably my favorite jersey. I love how it has Real Madrid embroidered on the back below the neckline. It also has a cool patch - "FIFA Award, Best Club XX Century"

07 LA Galaxy Blue - I say blue because it seems the Galaxy don't heed to the home and away colors. It is a Beckham jersey and I think my wife wanted me to get it more than I did. It is nice to have to bum around the house in, but I try not to wear it in public.

So there you go - What jerseys do you have? Please don't hate on anyone elses jersey collection either. This is just to see what people have, not argue about which team is better.