One More Time…
We’re getting set up here at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the last time ever. It’s a little crazy to think that after today we won’t be playing here anymore and we’ll have our own digs to call home. We don’t want to get too sentimental on you, but it’s the end of an era for our club.
But, honestly, there’s not enough time to get all emotional, we’ve got a HUGE game to play tonight. RSL’s expansion brethren, Chivas USA, make their lone trip to the Wasatch Front tonight in a match that has major playoff implications. As we’ve discussed here before, Real sit in second place in the Western Conference, but are only one point clear of both Chivas and Colorado while San Jose lurks two points back. A home win tonight would not only ensure that RSL maintains its hold on second place for another week, but it would put a little distance between them and Chivas. A loss however, and major, major pressure would be put on the club as they hit the road for a pair of contests.
Needless to say, the guys don’t need a whole lot of motivation tonight. They know what’s on the line.
All that being said, we’ve now got the lineups for tonight in front of us. Check them out…
Real Salt Lake: GK – Nick Rimando; DF – Chris Wingert, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Ian Joy; MF – Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Andy Williams; FW – Robbie Findley, Yura Movsisyan
Bench: Chris Seitz, Robbie Russell, Kenny Cutler, Clint Mathis, Kenny Deuchar, David Horst, Tino Nunez
Chivas USA: GK – Dan Kennedy; DF – Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, Claudio Suarez, Jonathan Bornstein; MF – Atiba Harris, Paulo Nagamura, Sacha Kljestan, Francisco Mendoza; FW – Ante Razov, Alecko Eskandarian
Bench: Lance Parker, Jim Curtin, Bobby Burling, Sacha Victorine, Jesse Marsch, Jorge Flores, Justin Braun
As you can see, RSL starts the same way they did last week in New York, while Chivas is sporting a few familiar faces with ex-RSL players Carey Talley, Alecko Eskandarian, and Atiba Harris all getting the start. Stay tuned, this one’s shaping up to be a thriller.
7th minute: We’re only a few minutes in, but each team has taken turns looking dangerous so far. Both Robbie and Yura have used their speed to slide behind the Chivas backline for half-chances, but have been unable to find that final touch. Chivas, meanwhile, took advantage of a quick counter-attack to get a good look for striker Alecko Eskandarian, the former RSL man’s shot went right to Nick Rimando however, and the score remains level.
17th minute: The Real offense has looked very good so far. Between Robbie, Yura, and Javi there have been a handful of good spurts and chances. They’ve been unable to convert any into the lead, but it’s been strong nonetheless. Chivas on the other hand looks content to defend and pick their spots in the counter (which has been fairly effective so far, earning them a couple good looks).
29th minute: We’ve seen a bit of a role-reversal these last few minutes. It’s been Chivas controlling possession and moving forward, while RSL defends and counters.
51st minute: We had to step out for a few minutes, but we’re back. The rest of the first half was much of the same, each team trading chances but never finding that last ball to break through. The second half is underway and the only change we’ve seen so far is Chivas replacing Jonathan Bornstein with the newly-acquired Sacha Victorine.
55th minute: And just as we say that, Jason Kreis makes his first move of the match replacing Andy Williams with Clint Mathis in the midfield.
64th minute: This one’s gotten bogged down in the midfield in the last 10 or so minutes. The only recent chances came off a pair of RSL free-kicks from about 35 and 25 yards respectively. Neither was able to test the keeper however.
66th minute: We’ve got our second move of the match by Chivas Head Coach Preki, replacing striker Ante Razov with midfielder Jesse Marsch. It’s an interesting move in that it replaces an attacking player with more defensive-minded midfielder. This could change the way Chivas looks to close this one out…
70th minute: We’ve got a stoppage in play right now as Yura and Talley just collided heads going for a cross and Carey is down. During the stoppage, Jason took the opportunity to change up his strike-line replacing Robbie with Kenny Deuchar. Look for RSL to push wide and try to find the good Dr.’s head…
72nd minute: In a shocking play, Chivas has struck first. After a long ball from the back, Nat and Nick collided as they looked to make a play on the ball. The ball dribbled free and Alecko was the only player within 20 yards. In probably the easiest goal of his career, the former RSL man took it to the line and smashed home for the 1-0 Chivas lead.
79th minute: RSL is getting a bit frustrated with some of their opponents’ tactics. Both Javi and Jamison just picked up cautions on back-to-back plays. RSL needs this result and they know it. This one’s certainly not over yet.
20 Sep 2008 05:29 pm RSL HQ 35 comments
Now it is over.
What is Rimando thinking coming out on that play? He lost the game with that mistake.
I honestly think Chivas are a terrible team this year. They have a few good players but for the most part their team is a bunch of over-aged or under-talented patchwork. We should have beat them solidly at home.
Yura and Findley need to take some power off their breakaway shots and place them instead of blasting them 100 feet too high and 400 yards into the stands.
This loss is tough to swallow.
Hmmm….things are going downhill quickly…things are starting to feel much too familiar.
26k+ fans isn’t enough to get the team playing?
And I was getting so excited for the playoffs…until about August.
This was a make or break game for RSL. I am going to predict that RSL will finish the season with 35 points and once again be out of the playoffs. This also is the end of semi-affordable tickets. Are they going to have a Colonel’s Corner at the new stadium? That would help.
Wow
This may have been so long 2008!!!
Now RSL has to do what it seems they cannot do, Win away from home.
One terrible breakdown in the back and RSL maybe toast, but my one real question is why start Findley? He is so so effective off the bench when we really need the speed.
And again in such a important match and Kries seems to be way to conservative in making substitutions, Your team is down a goal in a match you must win and you pull a forward for a forward.
I really do hope we can pull this season off, but if not I will be here again next year and again the year after that to cheer, cheer cheer.
sad! we sucked tonight. it also is sad that Alecko scored that goal. the passes were way off and i hate to say this BUT Beckerman was just not there tonight. it was like he was on the pitch but his mind wasn’t. what is with Mathis?!!!!! andy should ve stayed in.
Does this team deserve its fans? Its record in front of crowds of more than 17,000 this season: 0 wins, 1 loss, 2 ties.
Why did Kreis start and continue to play Findley and Yura M? They are both the same type of player. Why not start Deuchar who can hold the ball, dish off to following midfielders while either Mosisyean or Findley stretch the defense with an OCCASIONAL ball over the top. Tonight, there was an occasional ball that was played through the midfield and almost every ball played over the top.
Why does this team choke in the attacking third? Andy Williams, Findley, Mosisyean all could have had goals but instead blew easy touches.
The team did not show up to play the second half and pretty much stopped playing after the “own” goal. Pretty pathetic for a team that is supposedly determined to make the playoffs. I saw no determination out there tonight.
Clint Mathis is not the problem, although I haven’t seen anything that he brings when he comes in. He’s a non-factor which is not what this team needs in the midfield.
Well, that was a pretty dismal way to go out. Why does JK have so much faith in Movsisyan? And why is this faith better than his faith in Findley? I just dont get it.
I didnt want to go to the playoffs anyways, and apparently, the players and the coaches dont either…
oh well…
Crushed. Time to make the San Jose trip worth it–not a good time to be playing them there. Hopefully Ian Joy gives the pep talk and gets everyone pissed enough to take off some heads. Enough of this prancy playing–lets force our way into the playoffs.
What a stupid way to lose. Alecko only scores in situations like that, never a real goal.
We are just not a threat to score consistently without Espindola.
It was an entertaining game with lots of chances, just not a lot of finishing, and I don’t see that changing. I think we’re done.
Lets insist our way into the playoffs..Go RSL……………
crash:
i llike what your sayin! that should be what their thinking this week!!! great comment
Wow! What can you say to that?
I am planning on going to the Crapids game on the 25th of Oct, is anyone else thinking of going for the last chance at redemtion?
the drinking didnt help. i woke up just as angry as i went to bed. blame the result tonight on Kreis. but the team deserves the shame too. this was embarrassing.
Movsisyan. What does Kreis see in him? Reserve match talent has clearly not transitioned to the first team. Probably because he is somewhere in between the talent of the reserves and the first team. Its always going to be easier to score on keeps that dont play first squad. Also, I sat next to someone who kept saying he (Mov.) was better than Deuchar because he put shots on goal. Shots directly to the keep may in fact be shots on goal, but they are WORTHLESS. pick your head up Movsisyan, put some power behind your weak passing, and quit being selfish with the ball. You have a whole team behind you, most of whom have scored much more than you have! so pass to them!!
Deuchar did not see enough time in this match, and this is Kreis’ fault. Why Kreis sees Movsisyan as a better starter baffles me. While Deuchar may not deserve the name Dr. Goals in an RSL kit, but he provides something Movsisyan does not up top…smarter skill. He knows how to trap the ball, and feed it off to someone in better position. He knows how to win a ball in the air. He actually looks up when the ball is at his foot. All qualities that make him a better choice than Movsisyan. That said, he still needs to learn to score for us.
Findley, is a great sub. And he would be a sub if Espy were fixed. But we have to cope with the No Depth team Kreis, Lagerway, Howe, Checketts and the rest of the FO have given us. The fact is, findley does better when Deuchar is in with him. He and Movsisyan do not play well off of each other. Just another reason not to start Movsisyan. (and not to sub deuchar for findley)
Borchers and Rimando made a mistake, a BIG mistake. but anyone who is calling for them to sit the bench doesnt realize what that would do to the rest of the season (if we even have a legitimate shot at the playoffs) both Nat and Nick have played all game, every game. and with very few mistakes this season. for Nat who would you put in? horst? this would only be a bigger disaster. without beltran available we have very weak defensive depth. nat has to stay. and putting in seitz, a kid that has what? 3 MLS first side appearances, to save our season? i dont think that would be smart. lots of people will disagree with me here, but i think we are stuck with what we have, it may not be great but changing things up i think will kill any playoff hopes that remain.
Kreis made some of the worst coaching decisions in this match Ive seen in a long time. I want to understand why when we haven’t capitalized on a single chance, with twenty minutes left, we make a forward for forward sub? also, findley didnt have a great game…but what warrants leaving Mov. in? because he had shots on goal? (see above…shots on goal that arent goals are NO good!) but thank goodness we didnt see Nunez.
i have no qualms with the williams-mathis substitution. we have no better option than mathis, and williams gets tired about the 60th minute even when he hasnt been on Nat’l duty and played big for us for weeks. he needed a break, when he pulled that last shot it was clear he wasnt himself. the problem here is that mathis is neither bad nor good for us. he is a non-factor on the field. ive asked three times now i think, and i hope that garth will address this in his QA bit…why mathis? there is no substantial gain by having him on the pitch.
Kreis, why dont you make a shift to your attacking style? why not change the formation up when it is clear that Chivas has you figured out? put johnson or morales up top, rearrange the midfield, and lets salvage at least the home draw. i am really starting to think that your one dimensional approach to the game has been our downfall for the last month.
our biggest problem is depth. we have none. there are no options for the forwards, our only options for the midfield are cutler and mathis, and russell is it in back. i think kreis has great skill as a talent scout. but that said, we still have players like movsisyan, cutler, horst, kirby and nunez. i understand the need for developing talent, but frankly that has never worked for RSL. we waste roster spots (and small money) on these guys. while they may play well for the reserve team, they clearly cant make the transition to the first squad. so hold on to your 3rd place spot in the reserves division boys, it may be the only glory RSL can muster this season.
just before the 18 day break i praised this team for taking the top spot in the west. and for doing something for the fans. for making us feel like we were finally behind a team that played well. for putting together some relatively pretty soccer, at least by MLS standards. but with the good comes the bad. since then we have given away points and hope for a playoff spot is in jeopardy. guys, you squandered the last 18 minutes of the game. (in front of one of RES best crowds yet! does that not energize you?) whether it was coaching errors, a mistake on the field, or just a lack of desire, I was not impressed. this is not pretty soccer. so i have a new question for Garth and Jason, What are you going to do? You have two more, must-win, home games, and three more on the road which MUST net some points. What are you going to do? Your fans have invested money, time and passion. We deserve better than what we saw last night.
RSL, now you have to earn that playoff spot. You have let too many points slip by. No one is going to give it to you. I don’t see how we have managed to stay 2nd in the west for so long. we have been fortunate.
from the limited amount of knowledge i actually know about soccer, all I can say is that I was more than disappointed, quite frankly I was bored almost the whole game and I was trying my hardest to get into it. It was an all around disaster.
last nights game reminded me of the games my sisters played when they were 8. what is wrong with spreading out a little bit more and using the field rather than all clump around the ball frantically kicking and making terrible passes to nobody.
finally anyone in there right mind should have given a red for a hit in the face. I saw it, your side official saw it, and you seemed to ignore it. the MLS reffing must be fixed. it needs consistency. Kreis shouldn’t back down on this one…you might get a suspension, but even that is a win…which is more than you’ve done for the team recently.
lets just hope we’re embarrassed enough to pick it up and get to the playoffs. your devoted (although apparently critical and disappointed) fans would greatly appreciate it after all our support.
I belive in this team 100%, But the question is do they belive in themselves? They did in the first half of the season, what happened!?
and seriously, Mathis???!
SUCK….SUCK….SUCK…..SUCK
Not making the playoffs may be a good thing. If we do make the playoffs, we’ll have at least one game in the new stadium that we would have to buy tickets for. That’s $60 for a game in my seat…assuming they stick to regular season prices.
We have purchased our tickets for the Colorado game. Their most expensive seats are $35. It almost makes me wish I were a Crapids fan. Almost.
Wht is the deal with Mathis. I see other teams bringing good players, and Mathis is the best we can do. Our defense needs to wake up. They have costed too many goals this year. Olave was last week and the a luck of communications saturday cost us the game. I’m so *%$*&^# mad. I’m holding on season tickets for next year. I hate to throw many away when the ownwers don’t care about winning. Mathis is the best we can do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Done, finished, over, out. That was the lamest excuse for a game I have ever seen. How does Kries justify it? I just don’t get it.
The result sucked. Wah. The ref hates us. Wah. Jason needs to fix the lineup. Wah. We don’t have enough depth. Wah. We left more points on the table. Wah. The sky is falling. Wah, wah, wah.
Of course our backs are now against the wall and the ship needs to be righted. I know JK and the boys can do it and I think they will. With a few adjustments, this will be a very dangerous team.
Enjoy yourselves crying about [fill in the blank] – I hope you whiners don’t bother going to the new stadium or the playoffs.
re Chill
You know JK and the boys can do it? How do you know? Fact is that you don’t know whether they can pull it off. And history would say yours is a bad bet.
So i guess you are implying that we DO in fact have enough depth? That leaving points on the table is acceptable? And that our Findley-Movsisyan duo is a force to be reckoned with?
Since when is informed criticism a “sky is falling” mentality?
Yeah, a few adjustments would make this a dangerous team. Adjustments like…hmmm, having the DEPTH to sub someone in beside Mathis, or our ironically named “Dr. Goals”.
Hold your team accountable! Performances like last nights do not deserve to be applauded or accepted quietly.
its not all whining, take some time to read some of the previous comments: SJSG or georg for example–they post on here all the time. Maybe you could learn something about a soccer game from them?
Your ignorance shines.
ya they can fix it, but no one can blame anyone for
Complaining about Saturdays performance. It made me sick to see rimandos quote essentially saying that goal was Birchers mistake. A keeper should never even come close to colliding with his own defender 5 yards out of the box. That’s ridiculous.
@Aj – Nice. Thanks for your “informed criticism” and other general soccer wisdom. In the interest of letting my soccer ignorance shine a little brighter:
I think history makes mine a good bet – you might have missed the nice run we put together this year. It might also come as a shock to you that this team is a little different than it was the past few years.
In terms of depth – I’d take ours over almost every other MLS team’s depth. Despite having four starter-quality players out, we’re still fielding a very decent side.
Come on people, peace in here. We don’t move up in the standings if we bitchfight each other around here. One thing I have learned from living in Europe for 21years of my life is that real football/soccer fans NEVER give up on their team. Why do we like RSL? I at least can honestly say that it’s not the success that has drawn me in. But we have gone far this year, had some really good games which we have to remember. The team CAN do it. Now it’s our job as fans to give them a foundation of trust and hope. We believe in them, don’t we? So let’s show it. Staying home for the next game isn’t going to do any good at all. I’ll be there October 9th and if any of you is in it for a real cheer, let me know. It’s time to spice things up. Let’s get the engine started off the field and it’ll pass over to our players. Hopefully in time to make the play-offs.
i agree that european football/soccer fans never give up on their team. but those european fans would also call for a coaches head if his team had a record of 8-10-7. for RSL its been 3 mediocre years, and im still here even if its three more.
with our history, success can’t have drawn many supporters. most of us love it for the game. im not sold that they are going to pull it off this season, but they certainly can. i will be there on the 9th, and the 18th, and im trying to go to CO on the 25th. i want this post-season.
like i said, ill be there on the 9th. lets sing, lets cheer, lets do something to let the boys know that we believe they can–but that we also expect them to do something about this.
Humm I’d love to go to CO the 25th…do you have any estimates as to how much that would cost me? I haven’t known the team for that long at all, but I soo want the post-season as well.
The Fans and the team are in a co-dependent relationship. Neither one can really do without the other (Some people might argue on this, I know). We have to fulfill our share and they will fulfill theirs.
Just never lose hope. I won’t
Williams is so much better than Mathis. Get rid of that dead weight and keep Williams in the game.
Also, Kyle needs to be an attacking midfielder, not defensive. When is Kovalenko coming back? We really need him. Is Espindola expected back any time soon? We really need him too. If we had those two players we would be in a much better position.
Xenofred,
Couldn’t disagree with you more. Kyle is NOT an attacking midfielder. That was the problem early in the year, we had Kyle, Culter and Kovalenko all playing in the midfield and thus had no creativity, no ablility to hold the ball in the midfield and put our forwards in a dangerous position (so they could miss).
Since the acquisition of Johnson and with Williams we have two players who can possess the ball and move forward with Javi. Kyle is best suited to stay at D-mid, or to replace Williams late in the game if we are up.
The problem now really lies in the attacking third around the penalty area. The team cannot create spaces and seams to exploit with quick runs and passes which will result in goals. Goals when the ball has been played within the penalty area are few and far between this year, and will have to be improved on if we want to progress.
I think Kreis has largely solved the defensive problem, he has progressed nicely on having a midfield that can possess and move the ball (when it puts its mind to it). Now he has to solve the problem of the constant consistent breakdown in the attacking third. Once this is solved the team will be one to contend with. Until then it will not win consistently.
Ace, i dont know how much it would cost. just gas plus hotel, so it really depends on how many would go.
SJSF, I like your assesment of our midfield. i also like what kreis has done with it (except signing mathis and keeping cutler, but thats an off season discussion) Our biggest problem now is finishing…well that and the mental stigma that we just cant shake.
well maybe some people would be interested in going together? i think i’d really like to go..but by myself to denver..i dunno.
Ace,
my email is adrianwride@hotmail.com. a few of my friends are talking about going too. and i bet we could get a group of people from here or at BigSoccer.
anyone else interested in organizing a trip to CO for the 25th?
I just added you on MSN.. do you use it? CO will be much more fun as a group…and that way we can overcome the Rapids fans better ^^
I’d like to go to Colorado. Sign me up.
From my observation (and based on our winning record), Kyle was playing much better up front. He had the two goals early in the season and was instrumental in motivating the team through his intensity and hustle. I know he lacks the creativity of Morales, so that’s why we keep them both in there. Having the combination is good. It’s kind of what we’ve seen from Johnson.
Now that’s the hard question, do we keep Johnson or Williams in? I guess it depends on if we need move drive or more finesse.
very cool. well that is three. and two of my friends too. so 5 total. im sure there are tons more that we can get. hey FO, would you guys be willing to organize anything, or are we on our own for this one?(i think i remember Garth saying something like that earlier this year)