Conjuring Up a Win Streak?
No time for idle chit-chat today, so we’re gonna just start by throwing tonight’s starting lineups your way.
Real Salt Lake: GK - Nick Rimando; DF - Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Tony Beltran; MF - Kyle Beckerman, Dema Kovalenko, Javier Morales, Andy Williams; FW - Robbie Findley, Kenny Deuchar
Bench: Chris Seitz, Ian Joy, David Horst, Matias Cordoba, Kenny Cutler, Alex Nimo, Tino Nunez
Kansas City Wizards: GK - Kevin Hartman; DF - Michael Harington, Aaron Hohlbein, Jimmy Conrad, Jonathan Leathers; MF - Ryan Pore, Jack Jewsbury, Kerry Zavagnin, Davy Arnaud; FW - Ivan Trujillo, Claudio Lopez
Bench: Eric Kronberg, Eloy Colombano, Carlos Marinelli, Kurt Morsink, Chance Myers, Sasha Victorine, Tyson Wahl
As you can see, there is only one change in the RSL starting XI from last week, as striker Robbie Findley gets the call in the place of an injured Fabian Espindola. The real changes for RSL are on the bench, as Alex Nimo gets his first taste of action in the 18 as the aforementioned Espindola was unable to go. Another injury (shoulder sprain to defender Matias Mantilla) sees rookie David Horst also active.
There’s plenty of talent out there tonight. We should see a good one…
14th minute: We’re underway up here on the hill and the action’s been sparse in the first few minutes. Each team’s had one good opportunity however: RSL’s Robbie Findley saw a good ball find him alone on goal, albeit with a tough angle, only for his one-time shot to sail high, while K.C.’s Davy Arnaud fired a shot from the corner of the box that had Rimando beat, but couldn’t beat the crossbar.
30th minute: After a slow start for the home side, things have really picked up in the last 10 minutes. RSL has seen several quality chances only for Wizards keeper, Kevin Hartman to come up big. It’s been the good doctor, Kenny Deuchar causing the most problems for the K.C. backline, let’s see if he can keep it up.
Halftime: RSL has looked REALLY good since that slow opening stretch, but they’ve been unable to capitalize. Robbie and Kenny have looked very dangerous together up top and the Real midfield has possessed and distributed very effectively. Hopefully, we’ll see more of the same in the second half (just with a little more finishing though.)
52nd minute: The second half has picked up right where the first left off, with RSL dominating play and looking ot be the far more dangerous squad. At this rate it’s only a matter of time before the guys find that final ball to them on top.
63rd minute: Much of the same up here at Rice-Eccles. RSL continues to pressure, the Wizards continue to look for the counter-attack, and we continue to be locked up at 0-0.
70th minute: RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis makes his first change of the match. Swapping midfielder Andy Williams with Matias Cordoba is a definite effort to keep the pressure on the K.C. defense. Can the Argentine muster some heroics in his first big chance?
75th minute: It’s still level, but we’ve got to run. We’ll be back shortly after the game to give a rundown of the final 15.
End of Match: The last 15 minutes saw much of the same. No more great chances for either team, and we ended 0-0. RSL was clearly the better team tonight and it’s that fact that will make this result tough to stomach for the guys. They had many chances but couldn’t put the nail in the coffin. Regardless, Real remains undefeated at home and will look to take that form to the road next weekend as they travel to L.A. to take on Chivas U.S.A. We’re out for tonight, but thanks to everyone for coming out tonight. We’ll be back soon.
07 Jun 2008 RSL HQ
Anyone out there still believe this team does not need a proven striker?? The only consistant goal scorer on this team is Espindola and with him out, RSL does not even have a option off the bench.
This team is solid in the back, Midfield is working but the finisher is not there. Deucher is not a scorer, he is great at holding the ball with his back to net but he cannot finish!!
RSL needs to spend some coin on a forward that can produce..
If Mcbride is out of reach maybe we should look at Josh Wolfe who is out of contract.
we needed that a win!!! they played pretty well though. had some possesion, shots ON GOAL, it was a good game i would say…but what would had made it great would had been A WIN!!!!!!!!
Georg
I agree with you 100%. Deuchar missed 2-3 decent opportunities again last night. He has 2 goals in 11 games! Findley missed numerous times. If I read one more post about “oh, but he does the little things so well” one more time, I think I’m going to puke. It doesn’t matter if you’re dangerous, as a forward, if you don’t put the ball in the back of the net.
Bring in Martin Palermo. If we’d had him last night, we would have had some goals.
I concur RSL needed that win. I also agree that Deuchar is not a goal scorer. RSL needs to find someone that can put the ball in the net frequently. The midfield seems to do their part and score enough, but the forwards do not. Oh well I guess RSL will just chill at the bottom of the standings…..like usual. There is a point when I really stop caring. Almost to that point in the season!
For all the quotes from the team and coaches last night about how they were the better team, Kansas City walks with a point away from home, something RSL has yet to do this entire season.
I agree with you all. No killer instinct up front. It goes to show you how RSL is completely different when we dont have Espindola or Morales on the field. I think Findley deserved the start after last week. However our lack of firepower up front turns wins at home into ties and ties or wins on the road into losses. I think we are really regretting trading away Jeff Cunningham at this point because we could sure have used him last night. CAN WE PLEASE GET A DP?????
Ya, from what I saw in the highlights, we had a lot of shots on target, but every one of them were kicked right at the keeper. He hardly had to move all night because we just kicked it to him. We need a little more creativity up front so we can actually finish some of these goals.
Either give Deuchar the service he needs up top or consider his experiment a failure.
New coach anyone? We keep changing players, formations blah, blah, blah. I think that it is time for a COACH not a former player.
I agree that we need another striker, I couldnt help but think the whole game that we had no one i thought who could come in and get a goal. To be honest the only time I have ever felt we had a steady goal threat was when we had Cunningham, I dont care if people say he had a bad attitude, the man simply produces goals. I also dont understand why so many fans keep calling for a DP. That doesn’t mean we magically have a producing player, look at Lopez from KC. He looked an average player at best and I would be upset to see a player on our team making big bucks not producing.
Wigger,
I agree that it might not have to take DP money to bring in the right striker (look at Schelloti in Columbus). KC were idiots to pay DP money for Lopez. His game was always based on his speed. Now he’s in his mid-thirties his main asset is gone. However, I bet Martin Palermo could be brought in for just over DP money. I guarantee he will produce BIG TIME. His game is not based on speed but pure finishing instinct (and a thunderous header). If RSL could sign him and get a good attacking midfielder, I think this team would be VERY competitive.
4,000 less people decided to show up against KC on Saturday. It wasnt like the Jazz were playing or something. Maybe it would be time for a DP just based on a buzz factor. Also, our forward ranks are in shambles. Yura hasnt scored and is out. Findley has had one good game. Espindola is key but he has been hurt at times and Deuchar has yet to start producing the way we thought he would be still has contributed. Nunez is unproven. Right now we are deep at defense and midfield but not a the forward position. Bring back Jeff Cunningham!!!!! or sign someone like him.
I had the same observation as Juice, when they announced the attendance on Saturday night…it’s not like we’ve been bad at home, but if RSL wants to keep the moderate and casual fan’s attention and put their butts in seats, it’s going to take some sort of buzz that I don’t even think a win streak could create at this point. I hate the thought of shelling out $$ for a DP just because he’s a DP (Lopez of KC is a PERFECT example…useless whiner), but we need something to breed some excitement and build some momentum, and striker seems like the obvious position right now. Apparently, McBride is only interested in Chicago or retirement…which is too bad, because I think he’s got great potential for an MLS return. I haven’t paid enough attention to see who else is out there during the international transfer window, but hopefully the FO has their ducks in a row…they need to do something. Contrary to the popular opinion here, I was not totally unhappy with how they were using Deuchar on Saturday night. As opposed to putting balls on frame, he was being targeted as a point man to play balls across the box or back to his other forward or midfielders, and I feel like he did a pretty good job of that. The header that Hartman denied him on the goal line in the first half was pure dumb luck, and that should have been a goal, but Kenny didn’t compose himself enough to finish the rebound (which he should have). Robbie, Kyle, and even Dema had great looks but just couldn’t put one in the back of the net…as much as I hated him, Jeff would have found a way to score in that game. I’ve no interest in his return, but that finishing instinct sure would be nice right now. From the sound of the comments coming out of the locker room, at least they guys are no longer satisfied with anything less than 3 points at home. Now let’s see if we can take that same intensity and get a result at Chivas.
How can you not want Cunningham back?
I sure want Cunningham back. At least we got close to the playoffs when he was around. Last year we weren’t close, and the year prior to having him we weren’t close. Kries was prideful and blew it by getting rid of him, and for who? Eskandarian!? Yuck! Deuchar needs to go immediately! It was a good try, but he is just wasting space! I hate the DP thing though. It sounds nice to have a really good player, but for the money it is stupid!
Cunniingham was a good player but had a bad attitude. Kreis didn’t like that and they were having some other problems with him…but needless to say he is pretty dang good….he could score goals for us which was a definite positive!!
Sure, Cunningham’s a great goal scorer when he wants to be. But why do you think he’s played for so many different teams? HE’S NOT WORTH IT!!
The good thing about the Cunningham/Esky trade is we got rid of Cunningham and his baggage. The bad thing was….. we got Esky. But now they’re both gone and I think we have a much better team because of it. We may not be scoring as many goals, but we’re also not allowing as many. We just need our players to get healthy - Sturgis, Espindola….
Cunningham has a great goal tally over his career, but I don’t think he’s been the same player since arriving at Toronto. I liked him too, but they can keep him.
Poor Deuchar. The guy must have some skill or they wouldn’t have brought him in, but I have NEVER seen a professional forward as slow as he is, or as poor with the ball at his feet. Against KC it was comical! As far as his play in the air goes, maybe the service into the box hasn’t been very Beckham-esque, but the Juke has not impressed. Given a choice between him and Yura, I’ll take…well…can I have a 3rd choice please?
By the way, how is it we get the Quakes again next week? I’ll take the points I guess, but it would be nice to see some of the other teams come to town before we face these guys for the 3rd time at home…snore!