It is not just that Real Salt Lake’s captain, Kyle Beckerman, has been working on his dreadlocks longer than the LA Galaxy’s David Beckham has been coifed with an under-cut resembling a mullet with a racing-strip, that leads me to predict RSL as the 2009 MLS Cup winner. Rather, it is that RSL is peaking at the right time and relishes the underdog role. I will hazard a guess that not many soccer commentators and fans outside of Utah predicted RSL would get this far. But then again, the same could be said of the LA Galaxy after last season’s dismal finish at the bottom of the table. Add the supposed “failure” of “The Beckham Experiment”, and LA wasn’t on the top of anyone’s pre-season MLS Cup prediction. But Beckham proved he is not just a pretty face with fashion-forward hair, and the Galaxy rallied under Bruce Arena to go from worst to first in the West. RSL, as did the Galaxy, exceeded early expectations, and scraped into the playoffs despite their horrendous road record. Regardless of how their road season began, RSL’s post-season road-wins have put them in the final. RSL has taken on some of the never-quit-no-matter-what attitude of their coach, Jason Kreis, and RSL believes in their own ability to win the cup. In a head-to-head match LA and RSL are fairly even. Both teams have tremendous defense, and this has kept both teams in games all season long. RSL’s strikers, especially Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan will get shots off against the Galaxy and RSL’s back line will have no compunction about roughing up Landon Donovan and any other LA strikers – except perhaps Alan Gordon. The battle for the cup will likely be waged in the midfield. Both teams have strong and deep midfields, but the depth edge probably goes to RSL. Beckham continues to place balls on-target from his wide position and creates offensive chances on all set-plays. Kyle Beckerman will likely be in a battle with Beckham and LA all night for control of the midfield. Whoever wins the midfield “Battle-in Seattle”… wins the game.

Robbie Findley, MLS’s Player of the Week during the last week of the regular season slipped a late goal past the diving Columbus Keeper from a beautiful Yura Movsisyan pass, and delivers the victory to Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semis. The score came late in the game, and it became apparent early on that Columbus would have been happy to get out of Rio Tinto with a nil-nil draw, but RSL was just as determined to get a win at home.

I was puzzled by Columbus’s strategy from before the game even started when I saw their star, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, not working that hard in warm ups and actually never taking his sweats off. I figured, as did the RSL coaching staff, that he would come in at the half or at least by the 60th minute, but other than running back and forth in front of me and dodging occasional tossed colored paper-rolls (I had nothing to do with that, by the way), Schelotto saw no action. The same was true for The Crew’s Alejandro Moreno, who rode the pine, as well. Turns out that this was all “strategy” by The Crew’s coach. He thought he’d have the two slightly built stars sit out in favor of larger, more physical forwards Emilio Renteria and Steven Lenhart. It seems the Crew was still remembering the 4-1 spanking they received during the regular season by RSL in Rio Tinto and thought that maybe the bigger guys would fare better. Maybe they did, because it sure looked like the game was heading for a scoreless draw until Movsisyan came in and became a nuisance along the Crew’s back line.

Yura Movsisyan

Movisisyan did not come into the game until late in the second half, but as soon as he was on the field you could see the disruption he caused in Columbus’s game plan. The Crew actually figured a draw was good, and then they could go home and win. Sure, that could work… maybe, but what if RSL actually takes the game and has momentum going into Columbus on Thursday night?

I’ve never thought that sitting back and trying to tie was a good idea. Better to just go all out and shoot for a win and see what happens. Maybe Columbus actually thought they were going to handle RSL better with the bigger team, but RSL’s fast, small midfielders and forwards seemed pretty tough. Now RSL has the momentum and all they need is a draw in Columbus to move on. The thing is, Jason Kreis won’t go into Columbus with a “strategy” to get a draw. He will take RSL into Columbus with a plan to win the game. That is always the way to go. Always.

I have been surfing the soccer blogs today and not many people are giving Real Salt lake much of a chance to get past defending MLS Champions, The Columbus Crew. I just want to remind people of three things:

1. Overall, RSL has scored 23 more goals than its opponents in home games this season. In its last four MLS home matches, Salt Lake has outscored opposing teams 10-1.

2. RSL had the best record in the league at home (9-1-5) with 34 goals for RSL and 11 against in its first full season in Rio Tino Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

3. RSL also set an interesting record by scoring the most goals (18) after the 75th minute of the game of any MLS team.

Again, I know I’m partisan here, and it wasn’t all roses as RSL had one of the worst road records in the league.

RSL’s home and away records and play were like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde in Cobalt and Claret, and that dichotomy played out in what happened in the two previous meetings between RSL and Columbus this year. When RSL played The Crew at home in Rio Tinto, RSL won 4 to 1. Later, when RSL played The Crew in Columbus, RSL lost 3 to 1.

What’s the difference in how RSL plays at Rio Tinto versus everywhere else on the planet? Who knows… altitude, the water, or the energy they get from the 12th man. I only know one thing for sure, RSL played a heck of a game against Colorado to get in the playoffs and if the team comes out and plays a similar game they will be right in it with Columbus.

For RSL to get past the defending champs they need to make a statement in Rio Tinto today and not leave it to a road game in Columbus.

Can they beat the Crew? I think so, and my guess is that Columbus knows that too and will have no illusions this will be a walk in the park today. Me, I will be sitting on the front row right next to the fans pictured above. I love those guys, and apparently, so does the RSL team.

Robbie Findley - MLS Player of the Week

Conference Semifinals Begin

Finally, after seven months of play the real contest for Major League Soccer bragging rights begins on Thursday night in Seattle. Who would have thought that Seattle, the newest team in the league, would be playing post-season? Well, maybe Sigi Schmid and the guys that suit up in Sounder-Blue and Rave-Green week after week and walk out in front of insane crowds at Qwest Field in Seattle. And anyone who thinks that Seattle doesn’t have a chance to advance over perennial playoff favorites, the Houston Dynamo, hasn’t been inside Qwest Field during a game. Remember, Seattle already has one piece of hardware this year, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Sounders took the cup from storied DC United at DC’s home field in September. The Seattle Sounders believe! Their fans believe! Drew Carey believes! So, Houston is not a sure thing to gain points up in Seattle, and the Sounders have designs on getting the win at home.

In an effort to keep our readers informed about what is going on with the playoffs and where to see the games, here is the listing for the first round. MLS plans to have one game each week on Thursday, so the playoffs actually begin tomorrow night in Seattle. Some notes on things to look out for follow each team’s schedule.

2009 MLS Playoff Schedule – Conference Semifinals Game One

Thursday 29 October 2009

Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders at 10 PM EST (Weather: Chance of rain and around 48 degrees- this could work in favor of Seattle.)

Televised on ESPN2 and Deportes

Game notes: Sounders FC, more than most teams in MLS, has had the Houston Dynamo’s number this year. The conference semifinals match between the two teams should be an intriguing one. The Sounders have gotten the best of the Dynamo thus far in their first MLS season, winning twice and tying once in two MLS regular-season matches and a US Open Cup semifinal. Playing in Seattle is not easy. Attendance at the Sounder’s final home game was 33,108 and set an all-time single match attendance record for MLS league play. The Sounders also set the MLS record for highest average attendance per game at 30,943. The August edition of World Soccer Magazine listed the 50 best-supported clubs in the world – based on 2008-09 average attendances. Guess what? Sounders FC would rank 50th in the world if they had been counted in the survey. (World soccer hasn’t quite caught on that there are games being played in the US, but they will.)

Saturday 31 October 2009

Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake at 6 PM EST (Weather: Partly cloudy and low to mid 40s – weather could be a factor. I will be at this game and I am bringing a coat and wearing long-underwear – I live in California for a reason.)

Nationally Televised on Direct Kick and Match Center

Game notes: Just like in Seattle, don’t discount the crowd-factor. Real Salt lake has only lost one home game this season and Columbus is banged up. RSL played arguably their best overall game of the season last week to squeek into the playoffs and send Colorado home. RSL may be surging at the right time. The key to this one will be how RSL starts the game and if they can control midfield play as they did against Colorado. Nick Rimando made a brilliant reaction save at the end of the Colorado game to keep a clean sheet and he will be called on to have a great game. Robbie Findley was selected MLS Player of the week for his brace against Colorado and a good game from him would be essential. RSL has a deep roster and this could really help them, but Columbus has the experience and are defending the Cup. Look for a high-energy game.

Sunday 1 November 2009

Chicago Fire at New England Revolution 2 PM EST (Weather: Rain and temps in the 50s – weather will not be that much of a factor because Chicago’s weather is crummy too.)

Nationally Televised on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol

Game notes: Brian McBride is back and would like to prove something, and as questionable as Blanco’s falls seem at times, he is crafty and contributes to scoring all the time. There is a reason both Blanco and McBride have been superstars most of their careers – they know how to win in big games. New England has played unevenly all season but have come on well at the end. Defense will be key for The Revolution if they want to win at home. Chicago would probably settle for a draw but will be after a win away. This is one where I have to give the edge to Chicago, even away.

Los Angeles Galaxy at Chivas USA at 5 PM EST (Weather: Clear and in the 70s – weather will be no factor; hey, it’s LA and the weather is gorgeous this time of year.)

Nationally Televised on ESPN2 and Deportes

Game notes: The happiest people on the planet right now are the owners of The Home Depot Center and the management teams for David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Seriously, the SuperClasico on steroids. Money will be made off this series for sure. Home field advantage goes to the LA Galaxy on this one and I have to say that the overall edge belongs to LA the way I see it. Chivas USA started the MLS season in a blaze and then had some trouble. As with Real Salt Lake, the LA Galaxy is surging at the right time and they look strong. The last six games of the season were probably the best games they have played all year, and the team is healthy heading into post-season play. Look for a lot of cards in this game. Whenever these two teams play the games are basically fights on the pitch and this one will be no exception. The wildcard in this match will be the referee and how he controls the game. Will he be carding everything or will he let the players go at it and let them play all out? In either case, I think that LA may have the edge.

Overall, the parity in the league should make for some exciting games. Only nine points separate the teams that made the playoffs. This is the closest post-season race in MLS history and literally anything can happen. Don’t be surprised if several matches in the post-season end up going to extra time or penalty kicks. It really is that close. I for one, can’t wait to get the party started!

Now as we have seen before, anything can happen in the playoffs – remember the multiple crossbar shots that Real used against the Red Bulls to NOT get into the finals last year – I still have occasional nightmares about that little incident, by the way. But this year, yes, this year… Things will be different! If momentum has anything to do with success heading into the playoffs then Real is sitting pretty well after last night’s game. Most people (by people I mean sports commentators) had pretty much written RSL off, but that’s why the games actually get played, right?

While the powers that be at MLS have not definitively decreed what the playoff schedule will be as of this writing, it looks like Real will face the defending champion Columbus Crew at home in Rio Tinto next weekend. Until then, I will be wandering around Utah with a big smile on my face. If you see me feel free and stop to say hello. What do I look like? Well, for those that haven’t met me, check out my post game snap…

You Don’t have to be Einstein to figure the MLS Playoff picture out, but it wouldn’t hurt. Seriously, I have been mulling over the various scenarios that will still allow Real Salt Lake to make the playoffs and it makes my head hurt. As I write this there are several tiebreaker scenarios – most involving the full-moon, crop-circles and the Mayan calendar predicting the end-of-the-world in 2012 – but the simplest way for RSL to make the playoffs is for them to beat the Colorado Rapids in the final leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup on Saturday night and Toronto FC, New England, D.C. United, and FC Dallas all to fall in their respective road contests.

The Rocky Mountain Cup games are always barn burners. Just like last year, this weeks final game has implications beyond the Cup for both Real and the Rapids. Now that is what I am talking about! You have to love this. It comes down to the final game against two rival teams and all Real can do is to take care of business Saturday night. So don’t worry about the ties and the losses that need to happen for RSL. It doesn’t matter. There is not one thing RSL can do to influence anything outside of Rio Tinto.

So here’s the deal boys, and I am sure Coach Kreis will agree. There is nothing but the game on the field against the Rapids. Nothing outside the walls of Rio Tinto. Nothing. Colorado will come into the game playing for their post season life – as if they have ever needed that kind of motivation to play hard against RSL – and RSL has to bring it from warm ups until the showers get turned on after the game. That’s it. Simple really.

Seriously, I know that every frustrated fan on every team that is just missing the playoffs is probably thinking the same thing about their team, but just one more win and RSL would be in the post-season race. Now, the race for playoffs is out of RSL’s hands. Even if they win at home against the Colorado Rapids this coming Saturday, other teams need to lose for RSL to make the playoffs. I hate that. But, it is what it is. Early in the season RSL could not get a win on the road. Then, once that monkey was off the team’s back, they continued to have difficulty getting goals at critical times and had defensive lapses that would leave Rimando one-on-one against an opposing striker.

Overall, RSL’s play was pretty good, but the team as a whole did not play consistently at the level they showed the early promise of reaching. Regardless of what happens next Saturday in Rio Tinto, Kreis will have to rebuild in the off-season. With Movsisyan and likely a few other key players leaving, the team will have opportunities to grab some players that can play with the resolve and intensity that RSL showed from time to time during the season. As I said before, I’m not giving up yet, and I hope RSL isn’t giving up either.

Yes We Can!!! Real Salt Lake was at the base of Mount Timpanogos last night and things looked bleak, but now RSL is half way up the mountain. When the game began last night in Rio Tinto, RSL was four points out of a potential playoff spot with three games left. After Andy’s winning goal, and then the cracking insurance goal by Fabian Espindola, RSL is now one point out of the playoffs with two games left. While a win last night keeps them in the hunt, what gives me even more hope is the fact that the team controlled the midfield and no one got red carded or seriously injured. Coach Kreis wanted controlled intensity and that is what he got for the most part.

There is a fine line to be walked between intensity and desperation, and while RSL seemed almost desperate at the start of they game, the team eventually settled down and methodically kept coming at the Red Bulls. Again, it comes back to control of the midfield and building offensive thrusts into the heart of the opponents defense. You control, build an attack, and move the ball from side to side for a shot. RSL had intensity from the start of the game, but intensity and aggressiveness doesn’t get you good shots and goals.

By the second half the Red Bulls seemed worn down and lost their defensive shape, and that was when RSL was able to capitalize. Some of the professional commentators were questioning Coach Kreis’s decision to leave Findley on the bench until the second half, but now Kreis looks like a genius. He let the Red Bulls wear themselves down some and then brought in Robbie Findley and Andy Williams and lo and behold, Findley comes down the right side and crosses a ball in that Williams picks up off a slight deflection for the game winner. Genius.

Now, on to Toronto FC. RSL can still make their own destiny with another win. I’d rather that they not wait until the final game of the season against the Rapids. Road games have been hard for RSL this year, but a win or tie in Toronto would make the mountain significantly smaller. In Utah, we know all about mountains.

RSL has had lots of opportunities to NOT be in this position again, a position that has become quite familiar for the Claret and Cobalt, but we are where we are. When there were five games left in the season, I made the comment that RSL needed to win two or three of their last games to make the playoffs, and you know what… that remains the case. Seriously, a lot of people have already written RSL off, but not me, not yet. If RSL can win their last three games they can still make it. Heck, they might even make it with two wins. So, the ball is literally in RSL’s court once again. If the team can show some serious heart tonight and do something they’ve not done before; namely, beat the Red Bulls, then RSL remains alive. I have hope. I believe in RSL. Now, the team just has to make it happen on the field.