Real Salt Lake wins the MLS Cup in the seventh round of penalty kicks! Once again, Nick Rimando proved the value of a goalkeeper with catlike reflexes in carrying his team through the penalty kick round. Rimando was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his efforts during a hard fought match with the LA Galaxy.

Not many soccer pundits gave RSL a chance against the experienced Galaxy squad, and the ESPN announcers, Julie Foudy excepted, seemed unable to breath during their commentary without first praising David Beckham and Landon Donovan, but as Jason Kreis, coach of RSL commented post-game, “We believed in ourselves as much as people outside the locker room didn’t believe in us.” RSL, down after the first half of play due to a solid goal by the Galaxy’s Mike Magee, fought back with an equalizer from RSL’s Robbie Findley.

When regular time and the added thirty minutes of overtime expired, it was all down to the Galaxy’s backup keeper, Josh Saunders, and RSL’s Nick Rimando, who had faced PKs against Chicago Fire just a week ago. The LA Galaxy’s starting keeper, Donovan Ricketts, had gone out with a hand injury in the second period. Saunders played well in goal, but Rimando was better, and in the end, Rimando’s goalkeeping during the PK period was the difference.

RSL deserved the win. The team had a rough campaign this year, but they learned to be tough and to never give up.

Well done RSL! Well done!

Dear Seattle, it’s been quite a year for you all up there. After all, an expansion team is not supposed to do what you all did. I have to give you ‘props’ big-time! Seriously, the Seattle fans came out and supported a well-designed and well-staffed team, hammering all MLS attendance records. Then, the Sounders took the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-1 win against DC United at RFK Stadium in one of the hardest fought and most entertaining games of the MLS season. Finally, the MLS playoffs and two great games against the storied Houston Dynamo. An a amazing opening season from anyone’s perspective. Now though, invaders are entering the Sounder’s Holy Cathedral of Soccer to play for the 2009 MLS Cup. While it would be best (from a Sounder fan’s perspective) if the 42,000 seats at Qwest Field were filed with enraptured Seattleites in full-voice cheering their Sounders on, well… there’s always next year. And with the team that Sigi has built, I am sure there will be a next year for the Sounders.

Okay, so that brings me to the reason for this open letter. I am not going to demean Seattle fans by beating around the bush. I will come directly to the point… All Seattle Sounder fans sitting in Qwest Field on Saturday night should support Real Salt Lake over the LA Galaxy and here are the reasons why:

1. The players from RSL and the players from Seattle are similar – down to earth and hard working.

2. No pundits in the soccer-world give a RSL a chance in hell (”heck” if you are from Utah) to win this thing… just like they’d be saying if the Sounders were in the final against LA. RSL and the Sounders were both underdogs that exceeded expectations.

3. Salt Lake is similar to Seattle – both cities are cold and wet in Winter and we can deal. In fact, it makes us tough. Sure, you get more rain and we get more snow, but it’s still H2O, right?

4. The Galaxy has enough money to put up all those billboards and ads around your town and try and “buy” Seattle’s love. Are you all that shallow? I don’t think so.

5. RSL’s keeper, Nick Rimando tossed fish at the Seattle market and actually enjoyed it. Sure, Galaxy’s Alan Gordon tossed fish too, but did he like it? I don’t think so.

6. By rooting for RSL, the Sounder’s fans are really going to piss off Los Angeles, and can do it on “National Television!” That has got to be worth something. Think about it, Monday morning you are sitting at the Starbucks, Cherry Street Coffee House, Muse Coffee Company, or the other ten-zillion coffee shops in Seattle, and you are laughing hysterically telling your friends, “Man, did we ever piss-off Los Angeles yesterday when we….”

7. I promised Laurie, the Seattle Sounder’s blogger for The-Offside, that I would shave anything she wants if you all will pull for RSL and they win. Now I know this is a risk, cause Laurie might pick something unusual for me to shave, but if it will get the fans up there behind RSL, my razor is ready.

And the main reason that Seattle Sounder fans should root for Real Salt Lake on Saturday night…

I don’t really have to explain this one at all… do I?

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.

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.