Top 10 COUNTDOWN: #7

RSL vs. New England Revolution

June 21, 2008

RSL 2-1 NE

This game made my Top 10 Countdown, because this was a good win versus a very good opponent in New England.  It was also interesting how I made it to this game as well.  

My wife and I left Virginia after visiting my family, and as we were flying on the play, I kept checking my watch counting down to game time.  My in-laws picked us up from the airport, and they brought me my car, and I drove straight to the game from the airport, and made it just as they were getting ready to kick off.  Aubrey stayed home for this one, as she was tired after the plane ride.  Now to the game.

RSL gave up an early goal to New England after a defensive mixup with the goalie, and I was getting worried that New England (who was on an eight game unbeaten streak) would dominate the game.  RSL was able to equalize on an own goal by New England, as Morales sent in a ball from a free kick that was deflected into the goal.

In the second half, Tino Nunez scored his first MLS goal to put RSL on top 2-1, and I spent the rest of the match pacing the stands hoping that we wouldn't give up a late goal.  RSL was able to hang on, and I was able to leave happy.

Bone Marrow Drive!!

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that there is going to be a bone marrow drive for Marcia Williams, who is the wife of RSL midfielder Andy Williams.
Marcia has a rare form of lukemia, and they are desperately searching for a doner.
To let you all know, the drive is going to be on Thursday, January 29th, from 3 to 7 pm at Rio Tinto Stadium. Hope to see some of you out there.

RSL Preseason

Today RSL announced their preseason schedule for 2009.  This will be a great chance to find out about some of the new players on the squad, as well as to see how the veterans are doing.

2009 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule

Jan. 29-31

Thurs., Jan. 29 — Players report for entrance physicals / fitness testing

Fri., Jan. 30 — Media Day at Rio Tinto Stadium

Jan. 30-31 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 2-14 (At Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.)

Sun., Feb. 8 — RSL vs. Ventura County Fusion — 8 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 13 — RSL vs. Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) — 5 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 14 — RSL vs. UCSB or CSU-SLO — 11 a.m.

Feb. 15-17

Feb. 15-17 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 18-28 (At Tampa, Fla.)

Sat., Feb. 21 — RSL vs. TBD at University of South Florida — 5 p.m.

Tues., Feb. 24 — RSL vs. TBD at University of Tampa — 5 p.m.

March 1-3

March 1-3 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

March 4-15 (At Charleston, S.C.)

Sat., March 7 — RSL vs. D.C. United — 3 p.m.

Wed., March 11 — RSL vs. Charleston — 5:15 p.m.

Sat., March 14 — RSL vs. Toronto FC — 3 p.m.

Top 10 COUNTDOWN: #8

My match at number 8 in the countdown is 

RSL vs. Colorado

August 29,2008

RSL 2-0 Colorado

This was a match that I was very excited to go to.  Earlier in the season, Real had lost in Colorado 2-0, in a game in which we could have taken 1st place in the western conference.  As this was our only game against Colorado at home this season, I was ready to go and cheer on my Real Salt Lake.  

This was an important game not only in the season standings, but for the Rocky Mountain Cup as well, which is between us and Colorado.

Game Recap: Fabian Espindola had 2 goals in this game, and RSL played excellently against their main rivals.  You could tell that RSL had come to play, and Colorado came out flat.  RSL had their way, and was able to play their style of soccer, and it led to the victory.

This game is number 8 on the countdown because it is a rivalry game, and I am always excited to go and see Real play against Colorado.  

Wingert and the U.S. National Team

Just a quick post to let everybody know that the U.S. National team is playing tonight on fox soccer channel at 6:30 mountain time.  They will be taking on Sweden, in a international friendly as they get ready to take on Mexico in February.  Hopefully, our own Chris Wingert will get his first cap (game) with the national team, and he can do RSL proud.

Top 10 COUNTDOWN: #9

RSL vs Los Angeles Galaxy

May 3, 2008

RSL 1-1 LA

David Beckham made his visit to Utah, and the crowd was out in full to see him play.  And they got what they came for.

RSL opened the game up very quickly, with Fabian Espindola and Kenny Deuchar scoring very quick goals.  As the half was coming to an end, Beckham took over the show, scoring a pair of long, bending balls, one which came off of a free kick.  It looked like RSL struck back after the second goal by Beckham, but Deuchar was called offside (when the replay actually shows he was quite onside), and the teams went into the half tied two a piece, and that is the way that this game ended up.

This game is number 9 on my list, because I was able to see one of the best players in the world score two of the best goals I have seen.  RSL played a great game, and I got to see a lot of action.  I would have preferred a win by RSL, but I was happy as I left the stadium.

MLS Super Draft 2009

On Thursday, the MLS held the 2009 Super Draft.  This to me starts off the 2009 season, as now the teams are working with the players they have, and getting ready to train for the upcoming season.  Here is a look at the action of Real Salt Lake during this years draft.

RSL started the draft day off by trading Midfielder Dema Kovalenko to the Los Angeles Galaxy for a draft pick and some allocation money.

With the 12th pick in the draft, RSL selected Midfielder Jean Alexandre from Lynn University, which is a Div. II school.

Following that pick, Real took Raphael Cox with the 54th pick, a midfielder from Washington.

With the 57th pick, RSL's last of the Draft, they selected Futhi Bhembe, a forward from Alabama A&M.  Bhembe scored 14 goals in 16 games last year in college.

Hopefully, we can see these picks make an impact on the club.  With the reserve division eliminated, I don't know how these players are going to develop and grow, but I am looking forward to seeing them play sometime in the future.

TOP 10 COUNTDOWN

Okay everybody, we are now 10 weeks away from opening kick 2009, and it is time to begin my countdown of my top 10 games of 2009.  These are games that for me were special, and I look forward to reminiscing the past season with you guys.  Check out the link below, and click on the RSL game to see highlights from the game. (If it doesn't load the games for you, on the right of the screen go to select week, and then go to week ending 3/30). 

http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/index.jsp?club=mls&week=033010. 

Game Number 10

RSL vs. Chicago Fire

March 29, 2008

This was the season opener for RSL, and the anticipation was killing me.  I remember getting to the game a couple of hours early for this one.  Aubrey was not feeling well, as she was beginning her pregnancy with Kaden, so I went to the game by myself, which meant that I could go as early as I wanted and stay as late as I wanted.  

Well, the stadium was pretty full, and not only with RSL fans.  There were many fans who came to cheer on Cuatemoc Blanco, who is one of the heros of Mexican soccer.  The entire game, the Mexican fans where chanting "Cuatemoc, Cuatemoc", which caused the RSL fans to chant "RSL, RSL."  It was a great atmosphere for a game.  

RSL jumped on the board first thanks to an own goal by Bakary Soumare in the 71st minute.  This was the result of a Dema Kovalenko cross directed for Robbie Findley.  

It was looking that RSL was going to start of the season with a victory, but, we caught a glimpse of the old RSL, as they gave up the equalizing goal in the 92nd minute with a beautiful goal by Blanco.  The stadium erupted with cheers by all of Blancos fans.  On the bright side, at least we didn't loose the first game of the season.  

Following the game, I stayed to greet some of the players, and get their autographs.  Finally, the RSL stadium had begun.

News and notes

Well RSL fans, I know that it is hard to believe, but we are only 10 weeks away from opening kick 2009.  I for one cannot wait.  Things are going to start getting a little busy, as the MLS Superdraft is set for this week.  I will update on that.

Before I get started with the countdown, here are a couple of RSL news and notes that I have heard about.

RSL has chosen not to exercise the option on Fabian Espindola.  It is quite possible that he is going to be cut.  While Espindola has spent a lot of time being injured, I think that he was one of the better strikers that we had on the team.  It will be sad to see him go.  Maybe if we could just convince him to not do any backflips after he scores goals.  

Rsl is also looking at what they are going to do with Kenny Deuchar.  He was one of my favorites, but did not score a lot of goals, which is what he was brought here to do.  However, I feel that if RSL had a player that could effectively feed him the ball, I think that Deuchar could score more.