Tonight’s ESPN2 Prime Time matchup is the first head of that three-headed monster we call the Rocky Mountain Cup. So Real Salt Lake begins its campaign to keep the Cup they worked so hard to get from Colorado. And though it’s just the first of three, it’s a match packed with many meanings—top spot in the West included.
Word is that there will be a good-size contingent of the RSL devoted showing up to this away game. That makes me happy and a jeeaalous.
The game will start at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, which is only hours away!
Last Saturday evening Real Salt Lake took down FC Dallas (spoilers of our ‘07 season opener) 2 to 1. It was an exceptional game for viewing. The transformation of our lineup has been interesting, and the current result is pleasing. Some of it comes from injuries, but the rest of it comes from budding chemistry. Seeing our rookie, Beltran, out on the field playing comfortably provides a new type of versatile hope. Having Morales go off with a slight injury scares me—and I wasn’t necessarily excited to see Cutler take his place—but Cutler did nothing wrong.
It took me a second to talk myself back into the game after that substitution, and the score tied, but as I thought about it, we still had Espíndola & Deuchar up top and Williams & Beckerman in the midfield—all players that I’m really starting to trust. So when Andy sent that coldblooded chip in to Beckerman for the go-ahead goal it felt like a revelation that we’ve got a serious team (not to mention a match victory).
Another thing I wanted to pay homage to is Wingert’s stepover. Seriously, for an MLS defensive back to have such a wicked stepover is unfair. Chris has really shown up this season and I’m impressed.
The numbers on this home victory work in favor of my personal team goals:
MATCH
Shots taken: 15
Goals scored: 2
Finishing touch: 13.33%
SEASON
us — 11 goals on 92 shots = 12%
them — 12 goals on 81 shots = 14.8%
We’ve still got a 2.8% spread to cover, and that’s a guaranteed challenge with away games coming against Colorado and FC Dallas. The prospects are a little scary, but at the moment I’m happy.
This is an UPDATE to the earlier post Twelfth Boy.
One key distributor in the RSLvDCU tailgate-and-match party, shares her thoughts from the occasion:
We had a great time at the RSL/DC United game. XanGo distributors from several different groups joined together to support our Real Salt Lake team as they competed against DC on Saturday. It was a lot of fun as well as an opportunity for distributors from different organizations to get to know each other in a social setting. Some distributors brought their families—a great way to reward the children for supporting mom and dad.
Those who tailgated are already making plans to make an even bigger splash next year. We got some great ideas from the Screaming Eagles, longstanding fans of DC United. Our tents were right next to theirs for the tailgate, and my, what a force to be reckoned with they are! They made the stands shake. So next year, XanGoites, it’s move-over time for DC United as well as their fans.
The RSL vs David Beckham match was as good as advertised or better. People that paid to see Beautiful Beckham score a beautiful goal, got a 2-for-1. People that paid for another Real Salt Lake runaway home game, choked back a few tears and took solace in the entertainment value. All in all, the stadium was full to the tune of 25,500 supporters.
Result: 2-2 draw
Question asked in disbelief: “Dema, why are you kicking guys in the chest at the top of the box??”
The Numbers as they pertain to our goals:
RSL\\ 2 goals on 17 shots ((11.76%)) — good enough
LAG\\ 2 goals on 13 shots ((15.38%)) — not good enough
That brings our season totals to this point:
Real SL\\ 9 goals on 77 shots ((11.7%))
Opponent\\ 11 goals on 65 shots ((16.9%))
Real Salt Lake’s last two away games have been played in stadiums with strong supporters. In Toronto, they pack the whole stadium with rowdies; in DC, they’ve got the mother of all supporters groups—the Screaming Eagles. These fans give their home teams the advantage of an extra man on the pitch, making them “the twelfth man.”
XanGo has succeeded in drawing loyal pockets of supporters out to these away games to cheer on RSL. They’re doing a great job, but it would be a stretch to call them a twelfth man out there—at best they’re a “twelfth boy,” which is nothing to sneeze at either, on the road.
When our red & blue boys are out playing on foreign fields, any patch of home colors and team jerseys are a welcome and heartening sight, so props to the RSL roadies.
Here’s more photo evidence of Salt Lake supporters doing what they can—this time in DC:
