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Who Should RSL Protect?

November 15, 2011 By tpage 6 Comments

After publishing this page, RSL Communications contacted Real Nation and corrected its previous statement that Saborio would not need to be protected. Saborio did need protection and was afforded it in the list put out today.

Fabian Espindola was one of nine unanimous picks by our staff for protected status.

Major League Soccer will hold an expansion draft for the Montreal Impact next week. As in previous seasons, Salt Lake will be allowed to protect 11 players from being taken. The contract status of Alvaro Saborio (Designated Player) and Luis Gil (Generation Adidas) makes each ineligible to be taken.

Thus Salt Lake can choose 11 other players to protect. Real Nation polled its contributors and asked which 11 players should be protected. Here are the results:

Unanimous

We all agreed that these nine players should be protected:

  • Nick Rimando
  • Chris Wingert
  • Nat Borchers
  • Jamison Olave
  • Tony Beltran
  • Will Johnson
  • Kyle Beckerman
  • Javier Morales
  • Fabian Espindola

Questionable

These players received some support but it was not unanimous:

  • Ned Grabavoy
  • Paulo Jr.
  • Collen Warner
  • Andy Williams
  • Chris Schuler
  • Robbie Russell

Assuming the nine players mentioned above are protected, Salt Lake will have two more selections. We suspect that they will go to two of these players.

The protected list becomes public Monday in advance of next Wednesday's draft. We'll see who Garth Lagerwey and Jason Kreis choose. What do you think?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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The Season Ends

November 6, 2011 By tpage Leave a Comment

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Real Salt Lake lost a hard-fought match at the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 Sunday.

The loss ends a tumultuous season for Salt Lake that saw very high highs and extremely low lows. From nearly winning the CONCACAF Champion’s League to the devastating injury of Javier Morales, Salt Lake saw a wild season.

“I think it was a microcosm of our season,” coach Jason Kreis said. “Was it a night we didn’t attack well enough? Maybe. But we did have chances to score.”

Salt Lake hit the woodwork twice in the loss, but was unable to put away the necessary goals.

The match started out playing even but Salt Lake got the first chance on frame in the 5th minute when Robbie Russell got on the end of a Javier Morales corner kick and fired point blank into Josh Saunders. The Los Angeles keeper made the save and kept the match scoreless.

Los Angeles had a good chance in the 9th minute when Landon Donovan got open on the right side during a switch. He was able to freely cross the ball, but Nick Rimando pounced on it to eliminate the danger.

Los Angeles started to move more of the play into Salt Lake’s half around the 15th minute. This paid off in the 22nd minute when Landon Donovan’s cross to Omar Gonzalez ended with Andy Williams pushing the Galaxy centerback and referee Jorge Gonzalez giving a soft penalty kick to Los Angeles. Donovan converted and gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.

Alvaro Saborio responded in the 25th minute, when Jamison Olave flicked a Javier Morales corner kick to him. The Costa Rican put it in and equalized the match.

In the 33rd minute, Robbie Keene nearly scored off a set piece, firing hard through traffic and hitting the post; however, Salt Lake was able to clear it.

Keene nearly scored again in the 43rd minute when he juked by Jamison Olave and fired a hooking shot that just missed wide of the post.

Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman hit the post to end the first half, leaving the score knotted at one.

The second half started out with Salt Lake controlling possession, but Los Angeles had the first good chance with a counterattack in the 51st minute. Beckham played wide to Keene who crossed to Barrett; however, Will Johnson was able to deflect the header away.

The Galaxy took the lead in the 58th minute when Beckham’s service found a diving Mike Magee in the box.

Salt Lake nearly answered in the 60th minute when Espindola took a surprising shot and hit the bottom half of the crossbar, but it bounced away harmlessly.

Los Angeles scored again when Keene got a one-on-one with Olave and was able to get around the injured defender in the box with a remarkable cutback. His 68th minute shot beat Rimando and gave Los Angeles a two-goal lead.

Javier Morales got a shot on frame in the 84th minute when he juked around the top of the box, and fired. Josh Saunders was fortunate to make a diving save.

Fabian Espindola had a last gasp in the 90th minute when Saborio caught him on a run and The Argentine went one-on-one with Saunders. He missed wide right by a foot.

The Galaxy held on to win 3-1 and earned a birth in the 2011 MLS Cup Final against the Houston Dynamo.

Man of the Match

Javier Morales fought hard and created many chances for Salt Lake. He is the man of the match.

Game Notes

Jason Kreis pulled a surprise on everyone and started Jamison Olave, but not Nat Borchers:

  • FORWARD: Saborio, Espindola
  • MIDFIELD: Williams, Beckerman, Morales, Johnson (75’ Gil for Williams)
  • DEFENSE: Russell, Olave, Schuler, Wingert (67’ Grabavoy for Russell) (82’ Beltran for Olave)
  • KEEPER: Rimando
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Western Conference Final Gametime

November 6, 2011 By tpage Leave a Comment




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Epic Victory: Salt Lake holds on for 3-2 Aggregate

November 2, 2011 By tpage Leave a Comment

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Real Salt Lake gutted out a 3-2 aggregate goal victory over the Seattle Sounders Wednesday.

The side fell Wednesday 2-0, but won by virtue of its three-goal margin obtained in a victory over Seattle last weekend.

“Unbelievable battle for everybody,” defender Chris Wingert said. “I hate to say it, but you almost know its going to be like that.”

Salt Lake was able to hold on and get the victory in spite of adverse weather, field conditions, and injuries.

“The entire night was a difficult night,” coach Jason Kreis said. “It was a choppy game, which doesn‘t help us to gain any kind of rhythm.”

Seattle controlled the run of play in the first half, out-shooting Salt Lake 15-1; however, no goals were able to get into the net.

Seattle had its first chance in the 2nd minute when Nick Rimando had to dive through traffic to stop a cross from being redirected on frame.

Seattle nearly scored in the 36th minute when Rimando charged to punch out service and the net was left open for a Sounders shot. Jeff Parke fired directly on frame, but Tony Beltran headed it over the bar.

Salt Lake countered with a chance in the 40th minute when Saborio’s sliding service nearly found Fabian Espindola behind the defensive line; however, Parke made a sliding tackle and put the ball out of bounds.

Seattle appeared to score in the 43rd minute when Freddy Montero backed into Nick Rimando, knocked him over, took the ball and fired it into the net. However, the referee issued a foul on Montero and the goal did not stand.

The first half ended with Salt Lake fortunate to get away without giving up a score. However, the side would not be so lucky in the second half.

Seattle’s Michael Fucito earned a penalty kick in the 55th minute when he was pulled down in the box by Tony Beltran. Osvaldo Alonso converted and brought the Sounders within two.

Lamar Neagle made it a one score contest in the 61st minute when he took a pass from Montero, fired across Rimando and found the corner of the net.

Kreis made the gutsiest decision of the season in the 76th minute, bringing in Yordany Alvarez for Alvaro Saborio and going to a 4-5-1. Potentially facing extra time and a shoot-out, pulling his best striker was a tough call, especially that early.

Fabian Espindola got freed on a break by Morales in the 79th minute and nearly ended the match. He went one-on-one with Keller and nearly scored; however, the United States’ legendary keeper was able to make one last diving save.

Kreis doubled down on his Saborio decision by pulling Javier Morales in 89th minute.

Salt Lake parried chance after chance, even holding on for over 5 minutes of extra time, before the final whistle sounded. The result was a 3-2 aggregate victory and a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Man of the Match

Tony Beltran made a huge save off the line. He is the man of the match.

Game Notes

With Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers unavailable due to injury, Jason Kreis innovated at Centerback:

  • FORWARD: Saborio, Espindola (76’ Y. Alvarez for Saborio)
  • MIDFIELD: Beckerman, Johnson, Williams, Morales (57’ Grabavoy for Williams) (89’ Gil for Morales)
  • DEFENSE: Russell, Schuler, Wingert, Beltran
  • KEEPER: Rimando
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RSL @ SEA Gametime

November 2, 2011 By tpage Leave a Comment

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