RSL vs. DC United Recap

Well, RSL kicked of the Carolina Challenge Cup in a good way, beating DC United 3-0 on Saturday.  While I was only able to follow live updates from the RSL blog, it seemed the RSL was the better of the two sides, but they went into the half tied 0-0.  RSL then saw goals in the 49th minute by Escalada, the 76th minute by Movsisyan, and the 89th minute by Andy Williams.  

In the other game, Toronto FC beat the host club Charleston Battery by a score of 2-1.

Standings

                      PTS   W   L   D   GF   GA   GD

RSL                    3     1    0    0    3       0      3

Toronto             3     1    0    0    2       1       1 

Charleston        0     0    1    0    1       2      -1

DC United        0     0    1    0     0      3      -3

RSL vs. DC United

RSL take on their first MLS opponent in MLS Preseason action as they take on DC United tonight at 3:00 MST.  You can check out live updates on www.rsltothecore.com  This is the first match as part of the Carolina Cup.  Check back later for an update on the game.

RSL Watch Party

Hey there everybody. I am getting the MLS Direct Kick package this year. I think Aubrey is finally sick of me whining about the quality of the computer screen, as well as me always being up in the office on game days instead of down socializing with her.
Well, on Saturday, March 28th, I will be having a watch party to kick off the first RSL game of the season. The game will be at 8:30 PM, as Real will be taking on the new expansion team, Seattle Sounders.
Let me know if you want information on coming. Hope to see as many people there as we can.

Champions League Recap

Well, the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Leage wrapped up yesterday, and there were definately some suprises in the games.
The all mexican quartefinal between Cruz Azul and Pumas ended with Cruz Azul winning 2-0 with the goal aggregate.
The lone MLS squad, Houston, lost to Atlante 3-0 in the second leg after drawing in Houston, and they were eliminated 4-1.
USL squad Puerto Rico Islanders continued their suprise run in the Champions League by knocking of Maraton to advance to the semis
The game that I want to talk about was between the Montreal Impact and Santos Laguna. Montreal had a great home game, winning 2-0, and putting themselves in a great position to advance to the semi-finals. In Mexico, they gave up a quick goal in the 15th minute, but they still led 2-1 in goal aggregate. Following a huge defensive mistake by Santos, Montreal was able to equalize, and go up 3-1 aggregate, and they got an away goal. (With away goals, even if the game is tied at the end of the two games, whoever scores the most away goals will win.) This meant that Santos had to win this game, as a tie would cause them to lose on away goals. Well, Montreal bettered their position by scoring another goal before the half, leading 4-1 on aggregate. All they needed to do was not allow Santos to score 4 goals in the second half, and they would be in the Semis.
Well, Santos was able to get two goals back to make it 4-3 going into the 90th minute. They continued to press, and scored the two goals they needed, winning the series 5-4 on aggregate, and shocking the Montreal Impact.
Now, being an RSL fan, I have had many let downs as our team has given away leads late in the game, but I have never seen anything like this, and I cannot imagine what the fans and players must have felt like following the loss.

RSL Preaseason

For those of you who have been wondering about what has been happening with RSL in the preseason, sorry that I have failed to post.  RSL has completed their second trip for training, and are getting ready to go to Charleston, South Carolina, as they will be playing in the Carolina Challenge cup, with DC United, Toronto FC, and the USL's Charleston Battery.

Here is a recap of the RSL preseason so far:

RSL 0-0 Ventura County Fusion

RSL 8-0 Shandon Lueng Taishan (China)

RSL 2-0 University of South Florida

RSL 4-0 University of Tampa

RSL 1-2 BK Hacken (Sweeden)

So, RSL has a preseason record of 3-1-1, and have outscored opponents 15-2

The leading goal scorers for RSL throughout the preseason are 

Yura Movsisyan 3

Tino Nunez 2

Will Johnson 2

Alex Nimo 2

Luis Miguel Escalada 2

Arthur Aghasyan 1

Clint Mathis 1

I will provide game to game updates from here on out, as we get ready to open up the regular season.  So, the next preseason game is Saturday, March 7th against DC United.  Kickoff will be at 3:00 Mountain Time.  Go RSL

Top 10 COUNTDOWN: #3

RSL vs. New York Red Bulls

November 15, 2008

RSL 0-1 NYRB

Well, this is the only game on the countdown where RSL lost, but this was a great game, and a great experience.  This was the Western Conference Finals, which RSL was able to host.  The atmosphere at the stadium was unbelievable.  It was a sold-out crowd, with the fans standing on their feet for the entire second half, chanting and rooting for the goal that never came.

Emotions were high, as well as the possible dream of actually making it to the MLS Cup.  Aubrey was just about ready to give birth, which she did the following monday.  I was praying leading up to this game that they baby would wait just a little longer to come (sorry Aubrey).  

New York jumped into the lead, with another goal by Dave Van De Berg (He is currently the all time leading goal scorer at Rio Tinto Stadium with 2 goals).  

In the second half, RSL pressed looking for the tying goal, but they just could not find the back of the net.  It was agonizing to watch, but following the defeat, and the trophy presentation to the NY Red Bulls for being the Western Conference Champs, we cheered our team on, chanting RSL, RSL.

It was a great event to be a part of, and I hope that in 2009, we can do it again.

Top 10 COUNTDOWN: #4

RSL vs. New York Red Bulls

October 9, 2009

RSL 1-1 NY Red Bulls

As the season began, this was the game that I was most looking forward to.  This was the first game that RSL played in their new stadium, Rio Tinto Stadium.  I had been looking forward to this day ever since talks began about Real getting their own place, and the day had finally come.  We got to the stadium pretty early, and we took in the sights, and Aubrey humored me as I walked around and took pictures from almost every angle of the stadium, inside and out.  White rally towels were given to everybody, and I remember when RSL took the field, everybody was waving their towels.  I had always seen this done on tv, and now I was able to do it myself, and it was very exciting.  As the game began, I couldn't believe that this day had come.

Well, the party was short lived, as New York opened the game with a Dave Van De Berg goal.  That was in the 20+ minute of the game.  However, the party began soon later with a goal by Jamison Olave off of a corner kick, and the emotions of everybody, players and fans alike, was unreal.  Towels were waving, streamers were flying, and everybody was screaming.  It was great.  Nobody was able to break the deadlock, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie, which was a little disappointing, but at least it wasn't a loss.