A Tie Hath Never Sounded so Sweet

The nice thing about Sounders matches is that the headlines really write themselves. Moving on...just so you know how late the equalizer was, I'm keeping the first paragraph that I had written just before it:

DOOM! I don't know. That's the first word that pops into mind when describing RSL's result against Seattle on Saturday night. This club can not afford to drop points at home. Why? Well they lost only one time at home last year. They actually had the best single season home record in MLS history, and they still BARELY snuck into the postseason on the final day.

I know what you're asking, how good can a tie actually be. Well, with a last second goal put in by the home team as it looked like all hope was lost, a draw is a sweet result. Alvaro Saborio showed his nose for the net with a 94+ minute goal on a well taken corner kick from Nelson Gonzalez.

It was a goal from Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall from a Freddie Ljunberg free kick 20 minutes earlier, that seemed to be the game winner. Seattle had the game all but wrapped up when Kasey Keller chased an errant cross and caught it just before both the ball and him went over the end line, setting up RSL with a corner at the death. Gonzalez to Saborio, 2-2 draw.

Seattle got on the board early in the first half, when Steve Zakuani took a through ball from Fredy Montero. Montero received a pass in the midfield and Robbie Russell got sucked in to the middle, tring to support Jamison Olave. Zakuani took tthe cue from Montero and bolted free toward a helpless Nick Rimando. Zakuani easily put it passed the 2009 MLS Cup MVP.

It took Real a while, but an answer came in the form of a Will Johnson flying header in the 53rd minute off of a Robbie Russell cross. Russell received a pass on the wing and was able to make a pin point pass to a streaking Johnson on the back post. Johnson went horizontal right away and was able to beat Keller at the near side.



This match again showed a lot of good thing for Real Salt Lake, especially in the middle third, but creativity seems to come to a halt as they get in to the money range. It didn't help that their maestro, Javier Morales, left midway through the first half with a groin injury.

Man of the Match: For me it was a toss up between a number of players. If it had to go to someone, Will Johnson would probably be the guy, for his overall effort and his brilliant finish.

The Sound of a Home Opener

As far as Major League Soccer clubs go not named Real Salt Lake, The Report tends to turn a cold shoulder in their general direction. If there is one team, however, that we approve of, it is the Seattle Sounders. Maybe it's because how awesome Seattle is in general, or maybe it's how great of a fan base they have. Or maybe it's just the fact that they converted Qwest Field into a giant version of Rio Tinto during the MLS Cup final and rooted for RSL (or was it rooted against The Galaxy?). Regardless of the reason, The Report give Seattle mad props, and roots for them in (almost) every match they play. Okay, on with the preview.

Real Salt Lake (1-0-1) seems to have had ample time to shake off their frustrating match in Houston last Thursday, and looks to open up Rio Tinto the right way in 2010 on Saturday against another playoff-bound foe, Seattle Sounders FC (1-0-1). Like RSL, Seattle is also coming off of a frustrating loss, theirs against the (suddenly relevant?) Red Bulls.

I don't want to oversell it and be to dramatic here, but this is truly a vital game for the Salt Lake side. With two games under their belt, we've seen who this team is and who this team can be, as far as road contests go. But Real Salt Lake, historically, has been an incredible home team. And if they want to have a shot to make the playoffs this season, they have to step up and get 3 points in Sandy almost every time out, no exceptions. Seattle does not sit back and play for draws on the road and Saturday will be no different.

The Game:

The scene will be electrifying at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday as the 2009 Champions receive their bling and the championship banner is hung. The crowd will definitely be more than into it by the time the opening whistle sounds. Seattle will be looking to silence them with a quick goal. If Real Salt Lake is able to weather an early barrage, and maybe even get a quick strike of their own, there will probably be a victory celebration for the home side after 90.

The Key Players:

There are two guys two watch out on the pitch Saturday that will decide the outcome of this match. Steve Zakuani and Robbie Russell. In Seattle's match against the Philadelphia Union, their number one weapon was an end-line cross from Zakuani across the goal mouth. The way it works is Freddie Ljungberg or Fredy Montero collect the ball just outside the penalty area on the left wing and hold for a Zakuani run. Zakuani then shifts into fifth gear and blazes passed his defender as Ljunberg or Montero lays it off to him. Zakuani then drills it across the goal mouth and hopes a Seattle (or opposing) player deflects it into the net. It worked brilliantly throughout the Union match and, although only one of their two goals in that match were scored this way, Seattle could have easily had two or three more from this exact play. Russell needs to be wary of this run and do everything he can not to get sucked in too far trying to help Olave with either of Seattle's forwards.

The Result:

Real Salt Lake needs this match a lot more than Seattle does. Home wins are critical in any sport and, with the West Conference being as strong as it looks to be, RSL needs every home point they can get. Like was mentioned, Seattle is going to go for it early and try to be total buzz kills. But The Report just doesn't see Seattle ruining this party. Final score: RSL 3-0 Seattle.


Seattle Sounders F.C. (1-1-0) vs Real Salt Lake (1-1-0)
Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy, Utah

7:00 P.M. - Forget about TV just come to the game.

Road Implosion

If there is anything that Real Salt Lake has down, it's frustrating road losses and this is no different. Coming out the better team in the first half, with a one goal advantage to show for it, RSL let a golden opportunity slip away with a few mind lapses in half number two.

And it all started so perfectly. Minute16, when Beckerman slid that ball through Houston's D right on to Javi's run, Real Salt Lake looked as if they just were picking up from where they left off last week. But they got ahead of themselves. They started waiting for balls instead of attacking. And by the end on the first half, momentum had been captured by the home side.

Houston grabbed the better part of play right away in the second-half, and they were making nice probing runs from the word go. Something had to give for RSL, and it finally did. Geoff Cameron was running onto a through ball, with Jamison Olave chasing. Cameron cut Olave off and they got tangled in the box. A penalty was given (very questionable call) and Brad Davis had no problem converting. 1-1 53rd minute.

Before Salt Lake could respond, the referee was lining up another penalty kick and again the call was on Olave. Full disclosure: I did not see the foul but a good source (Ryan of The RSL Report - totally unbiased) said that it was more questionable than the first. Regardless, Davis stepped up and converted once again.

The game was sloppy from whistle one, but it got exponentially sloppier after Houston's go-ahead strike (by design, I'm sure, for Houston). A lot of chippy play, with some scattered chances for RSL, led to frustration painting the face of the away team. All of this came to a boil, as Fabian Espindola pulled a move resembling something Stone Cold Steve Austin would have invented on Houston defender Boby Boswell just before the final whistle. Boswell was innocently shielding a ball as it was carrying out of play when wild-eyed Espindola lept onto Boswell's back, grabbed his face and rode him into the corner flag. Both players received a caution...go figure.

Final score: 2-1 Houston.

Final thoughts: RSL has to take advantage of these games. They were by far the better team for 50-60 minutes of this match. However, ZERO killer instinct + TWO mental mistakes=empty trip to Houston again.

Man of the Match: Geoff Cameron - Houston. He controlled the midfield and kept Javi and Beckerman in check all night.

Game Notes: Along with Espindola's card, Olave and Chris Wingert were also booked; Brian Ching went off early in the first half because of, what is being call, a hamstring strain; Chin up Real, Houston has only lost twice at home in the last two years...that's sick.