To quote former Galaxy coach Ruud Gullitt "The more time you have, the more mistakes you will make." That statement proved to be prophetic on this night as four minutes of stoppage time proved to be one too many for Real Salt Lake.
Real started the game a little slow and allowed LA to create a few early chances against the makeshift RSL backline. It nearly culminated in an LA goal in the 22nd minute when Edson Buddle found himself on the end of a cross from Landon Donovan. Buddle was marked on the play by Robbie Russell who stuck his head in at the last moment and managed to get enough of the ball to send it wide. Unfortunately for Russell he not only got ball but he also got the full impact of Buddle’s attempt to redirect it on goal and was down for a good two minutes while the RSL trainers checked him for a concussion. With the worry that Russell might not be able to continue, David Horst started warming up. Horst wouldn’t be needed as of yet, as Russell was found to be okay and continued the match.
Russell nearly got his revenge four minutes later as a Mathis corner found his head near the penalty spot. His first goal of the season would have to wait though as the ball was cleared off the line by a Galaxy defender. Two minutes later it was LA’s turn to attack as Sean Franklin found himself open on the right wing with the ball at his feet. Franklin put a low cross into the area trying to find Landon five yards out. However, Seitz was up to the task and gathered in the cross before Donovan could get on the end of it.
It took another Mathis corner for the scoring to begin in this game and this time it was Robbie Findley at the near post who was the happy recipient. Findley scored his fifth goal in seven games by diving forward and redirecting the corner toward the back post. LA keeper Donovan Ricketts was ill prepared for this one and RSL found themselves the early leaders after only 34 minutes.
Real would spend the rest of the half playing a possession game trying to make it to halftime with their one goal advantage. Both teams did manage to get a couple more chances but nothing that was much of a challenge for either keeper and as halftime came RSL maintained their one goal lead.
Real came out the more aggressive side in the second half and it nearly paid off early as a Chris Wingert cross found Findley rushing in at the top of the goalie box. Robbie had to stretch out to get his foot on the ball and, to his dismay, it took a bad deflection bouncing wide. Real created several chances of similar quality through the next ten minutes and should have put one of their chances away but the final touch wasn’t there.
To try and increase the lead, and with Yura not playing particularly well, Fabian Espindola got the call to come in with 35 minutes left to play and he immediately made his presence known. He showed his vision just two minutes into his first game of the season lifting the ball over the defense to a streaking Findley at the top of the goalie box. This time Ricketts was prepared for the cross and managed to haul the ball in before Findley could get his head on it.
Then disaster appeared to strike. Nat Borchers, having played the last few minutes with a sore foot, came up lame and RSL was forced to call on David Horst to replace him. Salt Lake was already playing without Jamison Olave, serving a red card suspension, and found themselves having to rely on two players to anchor the backline who hadn’t seen much time on the pitch together, Horst and Russell appeared to be up to the challenge and Salt Lake managed to maintain the goal lead heading toward the last few minutes of the game.
With four minutes of stoppage time called for by the fourth referee, RSL were playing a defensive style of soccer. They pulled Findley back into a midfield role and left Espindola up top as the lone forward. The bunkering style bit them hard in the 90th minute as they were having difficulty clearing the ball with no one forward to pass it to. With the ball constantly in the RSL half, LA pushed forward for the equalizer and it paid of thanks to an inadvertent hand ball in the box by Will Johnson. Johnson, attempting to clear the ball, missed with his foot and his swinging arm made contact. The Ref instantly blew his whistle and Donovan finished off the play with a powerful shot toward the bottom corner of the goal. Seitz almost came through as a hero for the downcast Salt Lake fans, getting his hand to the ball and almost preserving RSL’s one goal lead. The shot had too much power behind it however and still found the back of the net.
Just moments later Mathis and Espindola teamed up to give RSL fans hope again. Mathis spotted Espindola inside the Galaxy penalty box and lofted a cross towards him. Galaxy player, Bryan Jordan was beat on the play and was forced to pull Espindola down to prevent a goal. Will Johnson stepped to the spot before any other RSL player could do so and claimed the chance to redeem himself for his accidental gaffe moments before. His shot was perfect, burying itself into the back corner of the net and putting Real back on top.
Then Ruud Gullitt’s famous words came true much to RSL, and particularly to Will Johnson’s horror. The ball found its way into the RSL half of the field and after pinging around for a few tense moments, Mike Magee received the ball behind most of the defense but still onside, thanks to Will Johnson, and took a shot from a very difficult angle. The ball somehow found its way through Chris Seitz feet and into the back of the net.
With the score now tied again RSL would have one last chance but, as Robbie Findley’s header would bounce inches wide, both teams would be forced to settle for the tie. Forced to play as many backup players as RSL did, their fans can take some comfort in knowing the team’s bench is deep and each of the backup players had moments where they played well for their beleaguered RSL side. Tony Beltran, Chris Seitz, David Horst and Fabian Espindola all played well for Salt Lake and deserved the minutes they received. Let’s hope that they can bring that same effort the next time Coach Kreis is forced to call upon them.
-Truhlk
Boz's RSL Art Gallery II
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