RSL Soapbox - All Posts

Player Ratings: Grabavoy, Wingert impress in 4-1 thumping over Chivas

2013-05-20T17:53:28Z

Nick Rimando - 8 The one goal that got past Rimando was a bit of a fluke if you ask me. I'm not convinced that Chivas was intentionally placing the ball when they got their head on it. Besides that, Rimando had at least two huge saves that kept RSL from losing its grip on the game. Rimando once again proves himself to be the best keeper in MLS.

Chris Wingert - 8 Wingert had his best game of the season and looks to be fully fit and confident again. He looked like the consumate leader in the back.

Carlos Salcedo - 7.5 I am loving the academy product more and more as he gets more first team playing time. It is hard to believe that he is only 19 years old with the confidence he exudes. I think his biggest upside is how comfortable he is with the ball. Dare I say he is moving ahead of Watson-Siriboe in the centerback pecking order? I feel more calm watching him back there, I don't know about you.

Nat Borchers -7.5 You cannot understae the value that Borchers brings with his leadership in the back. He made some well-timed saves and looked very sharp.

Tony Beltran - 7 Tony did a great job with the ball on the wing. Not his fault that the field was sippery and he got caught playing catch-up a few times. He put the ball in the right places even though the forwards/midfielders didn't finish some of those opportunities.

Kyle Beckerman - 7.5 Beckerman was all over the field making great passes and cutting off the strange Chivas attack.

Ned Grabavoy - 9 Grabavoy was out for blood and finished his chances with what looked like ease. After the game he said he will ahve to start scoring goals in pairs in honor of his twins, I won't complain if that's the case. Man of the match.

Luis Gil - 4.5 Maybe this is too harsh, but maybe it's not. You could see the look on Gil's face when he came off the field and he knew that he did not have his best game, nowhere close to it. When Findley and Gil were 2 vs. 1 against Kennedy, that was the clearest of chances and Gil looked to hesitate, hesitate, and then when he made a decision it was way too late and he kicked it right at Chivas player. The camera zoomed out and you could see Beltran's reaction which was priceless and summed up what just happened. If you didn't see it, go take another look. Either way, this was another exhibit of why many are clamoring for Velasquez to get minutes over Gil.

Javier Morales - 5.5 I am likely to get some flack for this rating, but Morales tried (unsuccessfully) to thread the needle a few to many times and his last touch seemed to be off all night long. And having watched his assist to Ned's first goal, I am still not sure if he meant to pass it to Ned or if he completely miss-hit it.

Devon Sandoval - 6 If Sandoval could just increae his skillset by being able to do more with the ball once he gets it, he would be much better. He did well holding up the ball and giving the Chivas defense headaches though.

Joao Plata - 7.5 Four assists and finally a goal for the "diminutive" striker. He looks to fit perfectly into the RSL system. That, or Toronto didn't know how to use him properly. The RSL strike force is looking better all the time. Hopefully this is the beginning of a breakthrough season for Plata.

Substitutes

Yordany Alvarez - 6.5 With more time he could have done more, but he had a great assist in a short period of time. He also had a dangerous yellow card foul that gave Chivas a good chance to score on a set piece. Oh well.

Khari Stephenson - 6.5 Much like ALvarez, Stephenson did really well with a short amount of playing time. He had a beautiful assist that put the goal on a platter for Joao.

Robbie Findley - 7 Haters are gonna hate when it comes to Findley. I will be the first to call him out for not finishing that one-on-one chance. It was clear and it was his for the taking. You have to finish those. But considering that he hadn't seen playing time in well over a month and he came on and scored a goal in 30 minutes, that is pretty good. With a couple more games under his belt I believe he will be better than ever.

RSL breaks through Chivas defense over and over in 4-1 win

2013-05-20T04:38:06Z

Ned Grabavoy scored two goals on breakaway opportunities for his first two of the season as Real Salt Lake broke past the Chivas USA defense over and over and over in a 4-1 road win.

Grabavoy scored his first goal of the season after breaking through the defense only three minutes into the match - his first regular season goal for the club since 2010. The three-man Chivas back line certainly takes much of the blame for the opportunity, but Grabavoy put nary a foot wrong against Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Javier Morales's pass may not have been entirely intentional, but Grabavoy's run was perfectly positioned for a pass in that direction.

Kyle Beckerman nearly doubled the lead at the eight-minute mark with a shot Kennedy could only parry wide.

The strangest point in the match may have taken place in the 30th minute, when Kennedy stepped up for a free kick just outside RSL's 18-yard box. His free kick hardly even smashed into the wall - it was more of a trickle - but the clearance landed at the feet of a Chivas defender and Kennedy was given a chance to run the 90 yards back into defense.

Chivas picked up the first two yellow cards of the match around the 33rd minute mark for bad tackles in consecutive plays.

Former Philadelphia Union player Gabriel Farfan entered the match at the half for his new club after signing for Chivas USA last week.

Joao Plata scored only four minutes into the second half after Kyle Beckerman intercepted a Chivas pass with his head. His pass dropped perfectly for Plata, whose speed carried him past a static, narrow central defense, and his finish from an angle

Chivas USA scored in the 55th minute after Nick Rimando missed out on a cross; Jorge Villafana sent a looping header into the back of the net, shocking a defense caught rather asleep.

Only moments later, Chivas nearly scored again, but Rimando made up for his earlier hesitation when he

Robbie Findley entered with 30 minutes remaining to make his first appearance since falling prey to injury earlier in the season. His first chances emerged immediately after; both after he burst past the defense. The second saw him one-on-one with Dan Kennedy, but Findley tried to round his opponent and the chance trickled frustratingly away

Grabavoy nearly had his second of the match after Plata made his way toward the touchline and cut the ball back to him, but a heavy touch saw RSL win a corner instead.

Yordany Alvarez checked in for goalscorer Plata in the 72 minute as RSL coach Jason Kreis looked to seal a 2-1 win on the road.

Luis Gil had a prime chance emerge after making a good run through the middle, but profligacy — the theme of the night — saw him stall in front of Kennedy before Robbie Findley fired the ball well above the goal.

Robbie Findley put RSL 3-1 up in the 78th minute, scoring his second goal since his returning to Real Salt Lake capitalizing on a missed clearance following a low Yordany Alvarez cross. His finish

Yordany Alvarez picked up the first RSL yellow in the 83rd minute after moving in for a tackle and missing out on the ball - and perhaps the player.

Khari Stephenson was RSL's final substitution, coming on for Luis Gil in the final minutes of the match.

Ned Grabavoy ended the match nearly exactly as he finished, scoring in the 90th minute on a breakaway - when the more nominally attacking players were profligate in their finishing, Grabavoy placed both his shots perfectly for a brace.

Carlos Salcedo started alongside a returning Nat Borchers in the center of defense, with Chris Schuler dropping to the bench on the night. It's hard to argue with the decision: Salcedo and Borchers were an effective pairing.

Match Thread: RSL v. Chivas USA; Salcedo starts over Schuler

2013-05-20T01:46:58Z

Lineup

Rimando, Beltran, Borchers, Salcedo, Wingert; Beckerman, Gil, Grabavoy, Morales; Plata, Sandoval

Subs: Saunders, Schuler, Palmer, Alvarez, Stephenson, Velasquez, Findley

Lineup thoughts

Carlos Salcedo starting ahead of Chris Schuler is an interesting decision. Schuler trained without apparent issue on Saturday, which would seem to indicate that it's a tactical decision instead of a fitness decision, although that's difficult to say definitively.

Tactically, Salcedo and Borchers might be a better fit than Schuler and Borchers. Chris Schuler has struggled at times to fill the role — perhaps it is a case of he and Borchers playing a bit too similarly by their defensive nature, but Schuler sometimes steps forward recklessly and makes costly mistakes.

One thing is certain: After RSL went ahead twice against Montreal and still managed to concede three goals and lose the match, defensive corrections have been needed. It's a fascinating progression the young center back has made since officially signing this season. Will a strong defensive display give him a chance to keep a spot at the center of defense?

Kwame Watson-Siriboe misses out through suspension; Olmes Garcia and Alvaro Saborio miss out through injury. Garcia picked up a knock in training on Saturday, while Saborio is still working his way back from a quad tear.

With Saborio out, rookie Devon Sandoval continues up top.

Luis Gil is back in the side after missing out; Sebastian Velasquez drops back to the bench. Robbie Findley also makes his return to the bench after suffering knee issues.

Correcting defensive errors, finishing top RSL's priorities against Chivas

2013-05-18T19:13:02Z

With another match against Chivas USA looming — that'll be two in the last month, with the final meeting coming at home on the last day of the regular season — Real Salt Lake will be wondering how to correct the problems they saw last Saturday.

It wasn't entirely problematic: Going ahead twice shows good resolve and better ability, even if the finishing wasn't perfect throughout. But the defending — from all areas of the pitch — was lacking. Two crossed balls leading to goals puts pressure on the defense to improve. With Nat Borchers back in the side, that should happen fairly naturally.

That less-than-perfect finishing against Montreal will need some correction, though. The two RSL goals notwithstanding — and one of those was an own-goal — 21 shots, with seven on-target and seven blocke, should produce more. Kyle Beckerman was pointed in calling for better finishing after the match. The struggles were encapsulated by a late, late shot from Joao Plata saved easily by the goalkeeper after he broke free of the defense.

Despite being listed as out in the most recent injury report, striker Alvaro Saborio has been participating in full training this week, as has the other out-listed player, Cole Grossman. Rich Balchan, who underwent successful shoulder repair surgery, naturally missed out on training.

Should Saborio miss out, one would imagine Devon Sandoval would be given another start. Who exactly he would partner with is a bit of a mystery, but that one, too, could be dictated by injury. Joao Plata and Olmes Garcia would seem to be good to go, but Robbie Findley has yet to play since RSL's match against Chivas USA on April 20. Findley's been listed as "questionable," though the answer to the question isn't really known.

All other expected starters seem ready; whether Luis Gil starts or not is a bit of a question after he was rested last week. Whether his ankle is bothering him or not on the day is difficult to say definitively.

Nat Borchers, who has been in full training, is over his little bout of influenza (or flu-like symptoms, as the case may be) and undoubtedly starts. With Kwame Watson-Siriboe out through suspension, Carlos Salcedo will almost certainly travel as a substitute.

After successful surgery, unlucky Rich Balchan to miss up to six months

2013-05-17T16:29:41Z

Real Salt Lake defender Rich Balchan will miss between four and six months after successful shoulder surgery, RSL communications has released today.

It's not the first time he's missed time because of injury and surgery. After impressing in his 2011 rookie season for Columbus Crew, the flexible defender didn't play a match in 2012 after having to undergo multiple surgeries to correct a sports hernia.

This injury is rather different, rendering the player one of the more unlucky where injuries are concerned. He suffered a shoulder dislocation against LA Galaxy reserves in late April, which was treated. Only minutes later, he suffered another dislocation. It's the second left shoulder surgery the player has had in recent years, the club reported.

Balchan is yet to play for Real Salt Lake in a senior game, but he impressed in his reserves appearances. Still only 24, the news will come as a disappointment to the promising young player.

Rimando one of six GKs called up to USMNT, won't miss RSL matches

2013-05-16T18:54:44Z

Nick Rimando is one of six goalkeepers to be called up in the most recent U.S. Men's National Team roster, but he won't join the side until June 9, when World Cup qualifications will already be underway. As a result, he should miss no matches for the club.

The roster, which is for friendlies against Belgium (May 29) and Germany (June 2), as well as three 2014 World Cup qualifiers: Jamaica on June 7, Panama on June 11, and Honduras on June 18 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Camp begins May 26, but players may arrive later owing to club commitments. As such, it's difficult to imagine Rimando will miss the match against Chicago Fire the preceding day.

In a press release, national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann noted a desire to keep MLS goalkeepers from missing matches.

"We have some excellent backup keepers starting with Nick Rimando, who's playing an outstanding season for Real Salt Lake and has done great with us every time he's come into camp," Klinsmann said. "We're also excited about the goalkeepers who come after him: Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson and Tally Hall. It's exciting that we can rotate them a bit in these upcoming couple of weeks because we don't want MLS goalies to miss too many of their games."

Klinsmann also noted in the press release that Kyle Beckerman is very much in line for a Gold Cup call-up.

Roster, via US Soccer

GOALKEEPERS (6) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (10) : Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Stoke City), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5) : Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

RSL to host US Open Cup third round, will face NASL or NPSL side

2013-05-15T23:11:51Z

Real Salt Lake will officially host its third round match in US Open Cup play, and the opponent will be either Atlanta Silverbacks, an NASL side, or Georgia Revolution, an NPSL side — the fourth tier of American soccer.

The match could see a younger group playing, including a potential first-team debut of Enzo Martinez, who is expected to return to RSL for the match and surrounding reserves engagements. But given perennial troubles in the tournament, Jason Kreis may be tempted to field a full-strength lineup in the tournament — although that historically has had little effect.

RSL's Open Cup performances in the past have left much to be desired, with the club losing 3-1 to Minnesota Stars, an NASL side. Real Salt Lake management bought the hosting rights to that match, and the fans proved the decision at least somewhat a good one, with over 17,000 in attendance — a club record.

Winning would give RSL a berth into the CONCACAF Champions League, which is one of the club's long-stated goals.

The match is part of season ticket holder packages and will use the "Bonus Game A" ticket provided.

Watson-Siriboe suspended after Di Vaio incident

2013-05-15T16:27:14Z

Kwame Watson-Siriboe has been suspended for a match by the MLS Disciplinary Committee after an incident with Marco Di Vaio during the match against Montreal Impact.

In the incident, it appeared Watson-Siriboe failed to avoid Di Vaio's head with his foot, and while it seemed he didn't rake his studs directly across Di Vaio's face, he did swing his foot across Di Vaio's head rather than trying to avoid him after a tackle.

The suspension leaves Watson-Siriboe ineligible for RSL's match against Chivas USA; Nat Borchers, who had been ill, may well be available on Sunday, as will center backs Carlos Salcedo and Aaron Maund.

While the suspension doesn't leave Real Salt Lake in a delicate position as it may have in years past, it does...