First Place Showdown
We’re just a few minutes away from kickoff and we’ve got a couple roster notes to share. First, midfield playmaker Javier Morales did not make the trip tonight as he nurses a groin injury picked up last Saturday against FC Dallas. That’ll be a big loss for RSL, as Javi leads the team in assists and has been an integral part of the squad’s attack so far this season. It will be up to veteran Andy Williams to step in and serve as a facilitator and creator. With Andy moving forward, Dema Kovalenko, who started the last couple games in a defensive role, has moved to the right, vacating that defensive role for Kenny Cutler to get his first start of the season. Kenny came on late and had a strong match vs. Dallas, let’s see if he can keep up the strong play. There are a couple surprises on the bench as well, the biggest being the inclusion of rookie striker Tino Nunez, as Yura Movsisyan stayed in Salt Lake. Let’s get to it, here is your Real Salt Lake line-up for tonight…
GK - Nick Rimando; DF - Chris Wingert, Matias Mantilla, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran; MF - Kenny Cutler, Dema Kovalenko, Kyle Beckerman, Andy Williams; FW - Fabian Espindola, Kenny Deuchar
Can RSL overcome their injuries and find their way to the top of the table for the first time ever? It’ll be an intense, passionate affair.
Take the jump to read all about the match…
12th minute: They’re underway at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Colorado has controlled most of the possession so far but has yet to create any dangerous chances. RSL looks solid defensively and will pick their spots to attack.
23rd minute: RSL has found their attacking groove in the last few minutes, with the midfield creating some dangerous chances and forcing Rapids ‘keeper Bouna Coundoul into some strong play.
38th minute: Colorado was looking really dangerous for a few minutes, with only some strong play from reigning RSL MVP Nick Rimando keeping the home side off the scoresheet. However, it’s been Real who’s looked strong in the last six or seven minutes with Chris Wingert and Kyle Beckerman providing some great service that the forwards were nearly able to capitalize on.
Halftime: We’ve reached the break and we’re still knotted up at 0-0. Each team has had some good chances, but neither has pounced. Colorado has had a bit more possession, but RSL has still looked fairly strong. Just what we expect in a rivalry match, nothing is going to be easy tonight.
46th minute: We’re back underway and each coach left his line-up intact for the beginning of the second stanza.
60th minute: Nothing yet. The second half has been played primarily in the midfield with each team looking for a chance to strike.
66th minute: Colorado strikes first. The Rapids work the ball down the left and striker Omar Cummings uses his pace to get past the RSL defense and finish past a helpless Rimando. 1-0 Colorado
74th minute: This one’s going end-to-end now. RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis introduced striker Robbie Findley in favor of midfielder Kenny Cutler in an effort to bring some life to the Salt Lake attack. It has definitely opened things up with RSL earning some chances, but Colorado has looked for the counter-attack and found some success themselves.
82nd minute: A good run through the midfield by Nick LaBrocca and his attempted flick over Mantilla in the box sees the RSL defender knock the ball down with his arm and the home side is rewarded a penalty. Christian Gomez steps up to the spot and drills it past Rimando for the 2-0 lead.
End of Game: We’ve hit full-time and it’s another frustrating road loss for RSL. They had their chances but they couldn’t capitalize and some timely finishing and unfortunate breaks earn Colorado the first leg of the 2008 battle for the Rocky Mountain Cup. For a full rundown of tonight’s events tune in to KALL 700 Sports and listen as Trey Fitz-Gerald and J.C. Perea give their thoughts.
15 May 2008 RSL HQ
Having Balboa on the broadcast is bogus.
I don’t care how much he has accomplished to how well he can break down the game.
The face of the crapids should not be on the RSL broadcast.
Another crappy road game, getting way too predictable… 2 wins in last 24 road games? Broken record, same old same old.
Not to pick on cutler, but when I heard he was starting I knew we were going to lose.
We are lost without Morales.
If players seem confused about a 3-5-2, a good coach takes action. If a striker has no touch, no pace, no finish, a good coach would make a change. A team that comes out in the second half and is labeled continueously as “flat” means that their coach has no motivational skills. This is another case where a good ex-player should be asked to take a seat in the stands.
I really wanted to give Jason time to deveop a style, to get his type of players vs. Ellinger’s, and a full training camp to get a system in place…basically, the benefit of the doubt. But I’ve got to say I’m starting to agree with Robo - we’re not getting better, and we should be given the talent on the roster and 8 full games into the season. I think Garth, etc. have done a good job of getting rid of some of the older “cronie”-type players (Klein, Talley, Brown, etc.) that may have been problematic for Jason in a leadership role, but it’s looking like his inexperience as a coach and inability to motivate his players are really beginning to show. While this franchise desperately needs some stability and consistency, and therefore a mid-season coaching change (again) could be devastating, how long does Kreis get a pass for? With the talent brought in (even without a DP on the roster), this team needs to be in the playoffs, in their new stadium, come October. And ownership needs to decide quickly if Jason is the guy to get us there. Professional coaching is not about moral victories, being close, or sounding good in a press clip…it’s about results. Just ask Avery Johnson and Mike D’Antoni.