RSL 2, Rapids 2 (exhibition)

By: Fitz | February 22nd, 2008

Fabian Espindola scored in the 81st minute, helping RSL forge a tie in their first exhibition against an MLS team this preseason.

The game, played in Lauderhill, Fla., concludes training in Florida. They’ll come back home, rest up, train in Utah, then head to Argentina on Feb. 29 — unless their dates on their Web site are wrong, just to fuck with us or to trick Bill Belichick into taping the wrong practice.

Espindola’s goal came on a 19-yard free kick that deflected off the wall. At least that’s what it says on the Rapids’ Web site. Would they lie about such things? I say not.

Yuri Movsisyan scored his sixth preseason goal.

Among the most telling things I saw was that Jason Kreis played his starting back four for 60 minutes, rather than splitting playing duties at 45 minutes apiece. The starting four were Ian Joy, Nat Borchers, Matias Mantilla and Chris Wingert. My instincts tell me Kreis wouldn’t play these guys together for 60 minutes unless he wanted them to jell, especially considering Joy and Borchers were not with the team last season and Mantilla was there for just 10 games.

Also noteworthy, just based on the game summary:

** Nathan Sturgis, who finds himself in quite the battle for playing time now that Dema’s coming aboard, played the whole game. He was the only one to do so.

** Mids Kenny Cutler, Javier Morales and Andy Williams played 60 minutes each. Kyle Beckerman (foot), Dema Kovalenko (deal not official) and Carey Talley (don’t know why) did not play, which is why I’m not making as big a deal about this as I did about the back four.

** The Rapids’ goals came in the first 60 minutes against the starting defense. Nick Rimando started in goal, and Chris Seitz played in the second half.

** Sturgis and Joy assisted on Movsisyan’s 40th-minute goal.

As I’m writing this, RSL does not have an official report on their Web site. Colorado, however, does — and you can read it by clicking here.

Is there something based on the summary that’s worth discussing? Or perhaps you’re wondering, like I am, why the Devil gave up his golden fiddle to Johnny when he clearly had the better solo in “Devil Went Down To Georgia”?

Either way, the floor’s open for discussion.

And now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to pretend I have a life. I’ll check back in with all y’all after the weekend. I hope to catch future Western Conference champion Chivas USA in an exhibition on Saturday evening. Cheers.