RSL Rocked by the Quakes – The Road Monkey Remains
By: Rocky Cole | June 4th, 2009
Hopes were high for Real Salt Lake heading into San Jose that Real could get the team’s first road win and drop off the monkey clinging to the team’s collective back. The monkey could probably use some time in the California sun after the Utah winter. Chances were good for a win or at least a point in San Jose, right? Real had played a solid game the week previous against a tough DC United team and came away with their first point on the road in a 0 – 0 draw. The Earthquakes – much like Real of late – had been taking their lumps on the road and at home so Real appeared to have a good chance.
Apparently San Jose did not get the memo. Even without Darren Huckerby, the Earthquakes handed RSL a 2 – 1 loss with a big San Jose smile that said, “Not in our house!” I sat in my chair and watched the game on TV and then asked myself, “What happened to RSL, they looked so good defensively last week?” I asked. My self (the voices from last week’s blog I think), replied, “At least they scored a goal on the road.”
You know, that’s right… at least they scored a goal on the road; first road goal this season, in fact. Thank you Robbie Findley! Granted, that is a pretty low bar, but when you haven’t been able to score away from home at least that’s a bit of a silver lining. And while the monkey may not be off the team’s back completely, at least it’s strolling around the concession area occasionally. A road win, no, two road wins, and I’d say the monkey is gone. There was some good play in the game against DC United and the Earthquakes, especially by Nick Rimando in goal. If Rimando had not played a great game, the score may well have been 3 or 4 to 1. The big question for me is: why were the Quakes getting all the solid shots at Rimando? Where was the usually strong RSL defense?
This week is the second game in the Rocky Mountain Cup and The Colorado Rapids beat up Real in the first leg of the cup. I know Rimando remembers. He has a nice scar on his hand if he starts to forget that gem of a game.
Seriously, if Real cannot get up for this game and bring some serious play to Rio Tinto on Saturday night, they can’t get up for any game. The Rapids will be expecting a pumped up Real to come at them from the first whistle and Real had better be prepared to give everything they have. Otherwise, the road monkey may be looking around Rio Tinto and thinking about relocating to the Wasatch Front from its favored place on the road. The Wasatch Front is a nice place, after all.
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