An Instrumental Evening...


The night was brimming with brilliance. The summer air was swirling with excitement. The sounds were electric and magnified. The sights were astounding and colorful. The people were diverse and intriguing. The Salt Lake City Jazz Festival was in full swing...



Okay, so that is a completely different story from the Real Salt Lake\Columbus Crew match, of which RSL won 2-0 to take sole possession of first place (for now) in the below-average Western Conference.

I missed this match to be at the jazz music festival, and I regret nothing for doing so. I was entranced by the melodic free-style sounds as they playfully pleasured my eardrums, and I did my best to re-direct the vibes up towards the Hill.

I couldn't have been happier as I checked my PDA in between bands. RSL was up 2-0 and the minute was at 84 on MLS match tracker. Morales, Lil Wing and the rest of the boys had put on a great show for the RSL faithful.

As if the music and the dancing weren't enough, learning of our victory made the magical experience of the festival that much sweeter.

We need to enjoy this while it lasts.

-Boz




Local News...



Deseret News/James Edward: A 'first' for Real Salt Lake


(Photo: Geoffrey Mcallister, Deseret News)

"It's cool, it's great we got there, but the main thing was getting three points tonight," said Real midfielder Kyle Beckerman. "Right now's not the most important time to be in first place — that will be at the end of the year — but it's big that we can actually do it."

Deseret News/James Edward: New starters provide spark

"It was really just looking Kenny and Robbie in the eye and seeing they were getting a little bit frustrated," said Kreis. "I know from my history of being a goal-scorer that it can become very mentally fatiguing, and I thought those two they needed a break, and I also thought that Yura and Tino over the past couple of weeks have deserved the opportunity."

Deseret News/James Edward: Morales bolsters All-Star case

"I think he's incredibly worthy. It would be a stretch to comment on his chances because I don't know what Steve Nicol's thinking ... but it all sort of depends on what his numbers are and what his tactics are," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.

The Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis: From worst to first

"It's absolutely delightful," coach Jason Kreis said. "It was fantastic to go downstairs and look into the players' eyes and the coaching staff's eyes and realize how hard we've worked for such a long time to get to some small bit of accolades at the moment."

"We can't hold our heads too high," goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "We still have a lot of games ahead of us."

The Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis: Morales hoping for All-Star slot

But considering he's already tied for second in the league with seven assists, Morales might be able to strengthen his All-Star case with a productive game tonight - particularly if he can outplay counterpart and league assist leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto and help RSL vault into first place in the MLS Western Conference on its fourth try.

Oswaldo, Santos Take RSL To School





Wow, what a match for RSL fans, Santos fans and Soccer fans in general. If anyone out there thinks it wasn’t beneficial to watch the Mexican Champions play Real Salt Lake last night, they’d be horribly mistaken.

Santos put on a serious clinic while dismantling RSL with their precise passing, dangerously quick counter attack and slick finishing. RSL was on their heels for most of the match while their mentors, Santos Laguna, learned them a lesson or two (or three).

RSL was flat nearly all night. Yes, many second and third stringers were giving it a go, and it wasn’t the type of performance we RSL fans are used to lately, but at the same time, the level of play displayed by both clubs was very clear. Many of Santos’ second and third stringers could easily start in MLS for almost any club in the League.

RSL was choppy, sloppy, rusty and slow. From the defense to the forwards, and everywhere in between, our boys looked almost disinterested; though I don’t believe that to be the case. They were simply out classed in every aspect of the match. The performance between these clubs churned up a clear winner, and Santos took every advantage that RSL handed them and made the most of it, while playing in the presence of thousands of intense Santos\Mexican supporters.

Shooting from distance, ping-ponging within the 18, and frequently threatening to score by skipping balls in front of the goal mouth; Santos had complete control and dominated an intimidated, whimpering Salt Lake defense. From touchline to touchline, Santos was the aggressor, and they did it with flare. They really know how to attack the weaker players while avoiding areas where RSL was more structured.

In Kreis’ post match interview, he was asked if this result will affect the mentality of the outcome of this Saturday’s league match with Columbus. His reply wasn’t that it will be negative, but that it will be a positive way to assess the way they need to prepare mentally and physically for the upcoming match.

Too bad Coach Kreis won't be on the sideline for this match and the next, as the league has fined and suspended Kreis for the next two matches. Not really the best way to help your squad be mentally prepared...

If anything, RSL should look at this as a lesson well learned. There are no throw away games. Not even exhibition matches. You can never let your guard down or else your ass will be handed to you.

Let us hope that the entire RSL organization was taking notes.

-Boz



Boz Pics...RSL 1-4 Santos




(Hey, get out of the damn shot, camera guy!)


















Post Match Audio With Jason Kreis




(Click Play to Listen)




Boz Note...


If anyone out there fancies a specific photo that I've posted in the past, or perhaps a specific player, just drop me a line and I will email you the raw shot--for Free-Fifty-Free.

Just tryin' to spread that RSL love one photo at a time.

-Boz

(rslboz@gmail.com)