4/11 News

[AreliusII]

RSL rookies stumble against L.A. veterans
By James Edward
Deseret Morning News
CARSON, Calif. — Real Salt Lake's Reserves may have dropped a 4-2 result to the Galaxy Reserves on Sunday morning, but it was hardly a disappointing result for RSL.
One of the reasons Major League Soccer created a reserve league this year was to help younger players gain practical experience. No team needs that experience more than expansion Salt Lake.
Salt Lake started eight rookies Sunday, while the Galaxy Reserves started several MLS veterans and four players with experience with their respective national teams.
That experience paid off in the final 11 minutes.
With the score level at 2-2, L.A.'s Joseph Ngwenya, a Zimbabwe international, put his team in front for good by pouncing on a rebounded save by Salt Lake keeper Jay Nolly. Ten minutes later, Herculez Gomez wrapped the Galaxy scoring.
"If you look at the game in the first 20 minutes, we basically, I thought, dominated," said RSL assistant coach Peter Mellor. "I guess that's when a lot of the senior players for L.A. got over their anger for not being in the starting lineup last night. They settled down, and their experience came through."
Real Salt Lake opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when Jordan Cila chipped a 35-yard shot into an empty net. Jamie Watson's speed up the middle created the goal as L.A.'s keeper was forced to come and save Watson's breakaway attempt, but the ball deflected right to Cila.
Los Angeles went in front thanks to goals in the 22nd and 47th minute. RSL eventually equalized as Watson tracked down a bad back pass, dribbled around the Galaxy keeper and slotted it into the open net.
Overall, the play of rookie goalie Nolly and defender Brian Dunseth impressed Mellor the most.
"I thought Jay Nolly did exceptionally well," said Mellor. "Even though D.J. (Countess) is playing well for us, it's nice to know you have a young goalkeeper that can come in. He kept us very much alive in the second half."

[AreliusII]

Ellinger looks to team for answers
By James Edward
Deseret Morning News
CARSON, Calif. — Real Salt Lake's John Ellinger can tolerate nerves as an excuse for poor play. But simply coming out flat? Absolutely not.
L.A.'s Cobi Jones, right, sneaks a kick past RSL goalie J.D. Countess, left, and defender Nelson Akwari. Francis Specker, Associated Press
"I don't understand how you can play flat," Ellinger said. "Maybe I'm naive, but you've prepared all week for a game, playing in a great stadium. Great team; 27,000 (fans). How are you flat? It's unacceptable to me for a team to say they're flat."
That lethargic play was just one of several factors leading up to RSL's 3-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
Andy Williams' ninth-minute injury played a role,
as did Landon Donovan's ability to expose the left side of Salt Lake's defense. Realistically, however, Ellinger isn't too concerned about those defensive liabilities.
"It's only the second game of the season, so it doesn't make sense to push a panic button," he said. "They played well, we didn't play so well, so you address that and move on."
Unfortunately for Salt Lake, Williams' injury won't be as easy to overcome. The midfielder is scheduled to have an MRI on his left groin today, which could realistically sideline him anywhere from two weeks to two months.
His absence could change the whole complexion of the team.
Even though Leighton O'Brien did well filling in for Williams, Ellinger acknowledges that his best option for this Saturday's home opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium is probably to drop Clint Mathis back into Williams' attacking-midfield spot. That would enable Dipsy Selolwane to slide up top alongside Jason Kreis and play his natural forward position.
Selolwane played a "good game," according to Ellinger, at right midfield, but the Galaxy exposed his inability to consistently hold the ball under pressure, leading to several giveaways in the midfield.
"Dipsy is learning a new position," Ellinger said. "We're in a little patchwork trying to make it work, and (teams) try and expose that."
That problem might naturally fix itself this week if Evan Whitfield is healthy enough to play. He's been nursing an ankle injury for nearly a month, but he's expected to begin training this week.
"Not having Evan has been one of the things that's hurt us," Ellinger said. "He's a wide player. That's what he does."
Chris Brown's versatility makes him an option as well up top or out wide. He was a 76th-minute sub for Selolwane on Saturday, and late in the game uncorked a powerful shot that forced Galaxy keeper Kevin Hartman to make an outstanding save.
At the end of the day, it's only one loss, and don't be surprised if Donovan makes a lot of MLS defenses look bad this year.
"We can be better," Ellinger said. "We've got to dig a little deeper, and whatever buttons I have to push and our teammates have to push, we'll find them. I'm not worried about it."

[AreliusII]

RSL: Will home opener yield first victory?By Michael C. Lewis The Salt Lake Tribune


Yes, Real Salt Lake is excited for the week of festivities leading up to its long-awaited home opener against the Colorado Rapids at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday. But there is one other thing that players and coaches are anticipating even more: "We want to get a win," coach John Ellinger said. The Major League Soccer expansion team still is searching for one of those, after drawing and losing its first two games on the road. It will get the chance against the Rapids in a game that team officials hope will draw perhaps 25,000 fans, after participating in a series of public events starting with a ceremony at the City & County Building today in which Gov. Jon Huntsman and Mayor Rocky Anderson will proclaim "Real Week" in honor of the new team. "Should be fun," general manager Steve Pastorino said. Weather at game time is forecast to be sunny with temperatures near 70 degrees, which should help attendance. Team officials are urging fans to purchase tickets early - call 1-866-9-SOCCER - to avoid long lines on game day. RSL has sold nearly 4,000 season tickets, a spokesman said. "We're obviously looking forward to the week," defender Eddie Pope said. "We want to get some teams up at altitude and get them on our home turf and take out our frustrations." Real Salt Lake is coming off a 3-1 loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy over the weekend, which left it with a solitary point at the bottom of the Western Conference - and perhaps without midfielder Andy Williams, who left the game with a groin injury that will be evaluated today with an MRI exam. "We know we're better than that," Pope said. The Galaxy's Landon Donovan scored twice and assisted on a goal against RSL in his first game back in MLS, yet many of the Real players complained they made it too easy for the star midfielder to enjoy such a triumphant return. "Honestly, I don't think we worked hard enough for each other, on either side of the ball," forward Jason Kreis said. "It's the typical thing for soccer players and teams to say, 'We didn't work hard enough for each other.' And usually, they will point to defending. But to be honest, we didn't help each other enough when we had the ball, either." Kreis scored the first goal in franchise history in the 29th minute against the Galaxy to even the score. But defender Matt Behncke allowed Donovan to sneak behind him near the right post and head in a high, looping cross from the opposite corner just before halftime for a goal that proved to be a killer. In the second half (with Behncke on the bench), RSL was

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forced to press ever harder, allowing the Galaxy plenty of quick counter-attack opportunities. One of them turned into the final Galaxy goal. "That's what happens when you're down a goal," Ellinger said. "You press and press and press and then you open yourself up to a counterattack. Those are the chances you take." In addition to the ceremony today, Ellinger and his players will attend a kickoff luncheon for charity, a movie premiere and a pep rally this week before meeting the Rapids. But winning, the coach said, is foremost on everybody's mind. "I know the festivities are there," he said. "But I know I'm not the only one - if you ask any of the players, they want to get a win." mcl [at] sltrib.com RSL week * "Real Week" Ceremony, Today, 2:30 p.m., Gov. Jon Huntsman and Mayor Rocky Anderson proclaim "Real Week" in a ceremony with team officials and players at the City & County Building at 451 S. State St. * RSL Kickoff Luncheon, Tuesday, Noon, Owner Dave Checketts headlines charity luncheon with coaches and players, to benefit the United Way, at the Hilton at 255 S. West Temple. Tickets are $60 each and include a game ticket to any RSL game. Call 801-924-8580. * Movie Premiere, Wednesday, 6 p.m., Veterans Jason Kreis and Eddie Pope join teammates in attending premiere of "Game of Their Lives" - Kreis and Pope make cameos - at the Megaplex 12 at the Gateway. Call 1-866-9-SOCCER for tickets. * Pep Rally, Friday, 7 p.m., The Loyalists fan club hosts its first pep rally, with players expected to attend at the Gallivan Center. Admission is free. * Home Opener, Saturday, 1 p.m., Real Salt Lake shoots for the first win in franchise history against Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Call 1-866-9-SOCCER for tickets. Team is urging advance purchases to avoid long lines on game day.

[bordelais7]

So Mathis at 10, with Dipsy and Kreis up front? I think I could definitely handle that. Does that mean Chris Brown starts?

[mckid]

I totally appreciate that people post news stories in the forums. It's awesome.

But, if you transcribe the entire story into the forum none of us visit the site and then the owners of the sites see that not as many readers hit the pages that contain the soccer stories, then they think no one likes soccer and thus stop covering soccer because of it.

I know this is an extreme, but the beauty of the web is that the owners and publishers know exactly how many times their stories are hit by browsers. So please post the links so that we can each frequent the sites and let the owners know that there is interest in soccer and RSL.

Just my thoughts...

[SoccerPrime]

I agree with McKid. Just post a link and then maybe a little excerpt.
We got to promote RSL!

Thanks for the news BTW Arelius.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

I agree with McKid. Just post a link and then maybe a little excerpt.
We got to promote RSL!

Thanks for the news BTW Arelius.

Agree with McKid and SoccerPrime...

I am actually glad that this was brought up as i was about to bring up a concern that is related to this

This may have not been considered:

When you post the entire article it is an infringement on copyright laws regarding "fair use"

It is legal to quote an author or news source but it is not legal to post the entire article or peice without permission.

It could put the forum in an awkward position.

Me being a photographer I have dealt with copyright law on many occasions although I am not an expert but I have studied alot about it.

Thanks for all of your research Arelius(II) it is much appreciated but in future it may be prudent to just post a link and a rellevent quote

[AreliusII]

Will do; thanks for the feedback.