May
08
RSL Has One Foot In
tags: XanGo Soccer
After a 4-0 drubbing of the reestablished San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake has one foot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Their next proving ground will be in Columbus where they’ll take on the Crew on May 27.
It was another feel-good home game for us in the Rice-Eccles Snowglobe. Some of the newer Real players (Realtors?) got their shot on the pitch for a game with a near-first-team feel: Cordoba and Nunez were the ones I watched with the most interest, and the team didn’t seem to suffer in any noticeable way from the switched lineup.
PERSPECTIVE:
The team that San Jose fielded (especially after the forced defensive substitution*) wasn’t the stiffest competition we’ll face this season.
*The Quakes’ Cochrane and Ayres had a heart-stopping mid-air collision that left them both laid out on the turf for a long five minutes. They both had to leave the game, and did so on their feet, but I’m still not convinced they’re well. I’ll keep my fingers crossed while awaiting official word.
The RSL attack looked good. Here’s where I can’t decide if it was us or them—we had some great take-aways in their defensive third that resulted in a goal and at least another great look. The Quakes did look a little sloppy, but maybe our offensive pressure was just that good?
Either way, I’m counting on that game to translate into comfortable and crisp play this Saturday when our MLS play resumes against the decidedly dangerous LA Galaxy. I officially declare it a big game.