Real Salt Lake takes three points against Toronto – Now looks for three more against San Jose Friday Night

By: Rocky Cole | July 1st, 2009

I thought Real Salt Lake was going to break my heart last Saturday night when Toronto came to town. RSL seemed flat at the start of the game against Toronto FC, looking like they’d overslept and were still in warm up mode. Visions of the last minute LA comeback danced in my head. But then, just when that “Oh No” feeling was creeping up my spine at minute 21, Yura Movsisyan slipped a controlled shot past the Toronto goalkeeper, Stefan Frei in a one-on-one play and RSL seemed suddenly alive and kicking. Movsisyan, who had a tough stretch in May and early June, has now scored or assisted on goals in the last four games. Yura is a joy to watch right now. You can see how much fun he is having, and his confidence is surging. This bodes well for RSL as they enter the next two games with four key players on international duty.

In the second half of the game, Captain Kyle Beckerman continued his solid play which earned him a call up on the U.S. Men’s senior team, and scored with a nice shot placed just beyond the reach of the Toronto keeper. And then, Clint Mathis broke away from the Toronto defense and blasted a laser-beam shot into the corner of Toronto’s net. Clint provided the assist on Beckerman’s goal previously, and coach Jason Kreis’s faith in the veteran player was once again validated. As of the writing of this post, Clint is running a close second for goal of the week. He doesn’t score often, but when he does, his goals are beautiful to see.

Besides the inspired play of RSL in the second half of the game, Ian Joy, injured in the last preseason game against the USL Divsion 1 Aztex, finally made his debut as a late game substitute. Preseason it looked as if Joy would be the starting left back, but his hamstring injury has kept him off the field. Finally he is back, and with Olave’s penchant for earning red cards, and four players on international call-ups, Joy’s comeback could not be timed better.
Ian Joy returns from injury

Ian Joy returned from injury as a late substitute against Toronto

RSL sits 5th in the Western Conference table right now, two points behind Colorado and one point ahead of Los Angeles. Three games remain before the all-star break, and RSL will have its collective eyes on a three-point result when the San Jose Earthquakes arrive at Rio Tinto Stadium Friday night at 8:00 PM (MST). San Jose sits at the bottom of the table currently, but the Quakes are coming off a win against the LA Galaxy, and I have seen San Jose play several times this season and they are dangerous. My prediction (and it’s tough because I really like San Jose) is for an RSL win 2:1, over struggling San Jose.

The game against the Quakes will be followed by fireworks. Of course, I’d rather see the fireworks on the field (don’t tell my sons), but fireworks in celebration of solid play and three more points – well, I could get into that.