So I thought I would share with you the official post match "summary" from RSL:
SANDY, Utah (Saturday, September 4, 2010) - Real Salt Lake used an early goal from FW Fabian Espíndola and another stout defensive effort from its entire roster to record a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls in front of 19,115 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake also grabbed a piece of League history in the process, as the win allowed the defending MLS Cup champs to equal the Major League Soccer record for the longest home undefeated streak in regular season play at 22 games (15-0-7 in that span), a mark originally set by the 2008-09 Columbus Crew.
The contest started out brightly for the home side, which went up just four minutes in after Captain Kyle Beckerman's first time chip at midfield sprang Espindola behind the Red Bulls backline. The Argentine striker would fend off DF Tim Ream and knock the ball past onrushing ‘keeper Greg Sutton and inside the right post, putting the Utah side up 1-0 before many fans could take their seats. While RSL was unlucky to not put a second up during a dominant first half, it was just as fortunate to not allow a tally to a resurgent Red Bulls squad in the second 45 minutes. However, GK Nick Rimando was on the spot to collect four saves, while Beckerman and fellow midfielder Andy Williams both cleared shots off the RSL goalline during the contest to keep the clean sheet, RSL's 11th shutout of the season.
Then you can watch and listen to Jason Kries' post match comments:
after the jump you can read post match comments from both locker rooms:
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
Thoughts on the game:
"We started out the game like it was going to be fantastic, and I was really thinking this was going to be a special, special night - and then we played the second half quite differently. I was not thrilled with the way we finished the match, but I am extremely thrilled with the result."
On the record-tying home undefeated streak:
"We feel really good about that statistic now. I think in our next match we will be gangbusters going to break the record. It is important to us. We take a lot of pride in our building, as I've said before. I think it's more than a building for us since a lot of us have been here since the place opened up. It feels a little bit more like a home."
On the difference between the first and the second halves:
"I don't think went out in the second half with the same defensive grit. In the first half Andy [Williams], Ned [Grabavoy], and particularly Kyle [Beckerman] were doing such a great job of turning back and double-teaming, helping our defenders to close things down.
"I just thought all of the details that we talked about over and over and over again, we were paying attention to the utmost in the first half and in the second half it was like ‘Oh, we don't need to do those things.' I think we felt like we were a little too comfortable, and I don't think there was a reason we should have been because it was only 1-0."
REAL SALT LAKE FORWARD FABÍAN ESPÍNDOLA
On his goal:
"It was Kyle [Beckerman] that put the ball between the defenders, and I just tried to hold the ball. When the ‘keeper came out towards me I just tried to finish past him."
On the importance of scoring early:
"It was very important because we get confidence from that. From then on we did a good job defending. We got three points; it's important, it's a big deal."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER KYLE BECKERMAN
On the vital three points:
"It was a game we needed to win to keep pace for the Supporter's Shield. L.A. lost some points today and now we are only one behind them. As long as there are games to play and it's mathematically possible, we'll try to get it."
On the early goal:
"We just wanted to come out and get on them. An early goal is always good, but I feel like the game could have been done in the first half and instead we don't score another goal and it gets a little interesting in the second half. We need to keep working on trying to finish teams off when we get them on the ropes."
REAL SALT LAKE GOALKEEPER NICK RIMANDO
On tying the MLS home undefeated streak record at 22 games:
"Our main focus was really New York, not the record. But I know that management and our fans wanted to record really badly, so it's a good feeling to get that, especially on a win."
On shutting down the strike tandem of Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel:
"We wanted to focus on the whole team because they've got a lot of quality players all around. It wasn't just me, it wasn't just the defenders, it was the whole team that shut those guys down defensively. Passing lanes and double-teaming players, we focused on that today and they really didn't have a lot of chances, and the ones they did our defenders took care of them."
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH HANS BACKE
Overall thoughts on the match:
"We didn't really show up in the first half. It was two different halves. [Real Salt Lake] dominated the first one and we controlled the second one and we didn't really take advantage of the first five minutes of the second half. But overall the team responded very well in the second half. When you are only down by one goal, you are still in the game. I would say that we were rather close to getting the tie tonight."
Thoughts on the difficulty of playing at Rio Tinto Stadium:
"We were only down by one in the first half and it was not due to fatigue, but we just were not aggressive in a pressing game. But the way we responded in the second half was good, and if you can perform like this against a team like [Real Salt Lake] you can definitely have a chance."
On the differences between the first and second halves:
"It's always difficult to say when you have such a difference between the first and second half. We made some changes tactically at halftime and that worked out well in the way that we defended and, at the same time, our attacking game looked much more precise and we created some good chances. I have said before that Salt Lake, Columbus, and L.A. are in a different class, but if we can play like this without four starters I would say that our depth is okay."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD THIERRY HENRY
On the result:
"[Real Salt Lake] showed how good they really are today. It wasn't the best game for us, especially giving up the first goal against a team who loves keep the ball and pass the ball. It's not an easy task to come from behind. I think we played better in the second half. In the first half they took advantage of our play; it could have been 2-0 at halftime and the game could have been over. We got some chances in the second half but they were able kill it off and they deserved the win."
On midfielder Rafael Marquez's absence due to national team duty:
"It was a big factor for us. I don't know if you saw in the first half, but we played long ball [football], which is not the way the game should be played. You saw the way that Salt Lake, they pass the ball on the ground. I think Rafa not being here was a bit difficult for us because he has a great vision and can calm people down, so we definitely missed him today."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JUAN PABLO ANGEL
On the result:
"We did not get a good start and [Real Salt Lake] capitalized on that and scored a goal. They had their chances and we had our chances, and I think the goalkeepers played a big part in the final result."
On moving forward:
"I feel confident. I think our team is playing very well even though today we were in a very difficult place. I think the team challenged [Real Salt Lake] and played well and created some chances. We are in a very good position and we need to keep getting points and make the playoffs. Anything can happen from here."
On trying to defeat RSL at its Rio Tinto Stadium home:
"They are strong here and they always seem to win here. They have a good run of home wins and we knew that it was going to be tough coming in here, but I think we gave them a hard time."
There you go, we should all enjoy the victory this weekend and get ready for one of the biggest matches of the year on Thursday as we head to Seattle.
OFF MY SOAPBOX