Friday, April 03, 2009

Goals Runneth Over for RSL in Home Opener



The first hat trick in team history, during MLS play, provided by Robbie Findley and a sublime header from Kyle Beckerman lifted Real Salt Lake to its first home opening win since 2005. In their wake, RSL left the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew disheveled, reeling from their worst loss since May of 2007.

From the opening whistle the frontmen for RSL, Findley and Yura Movsisyan, relentlessly badgered the Crew defense. Their pressure forced a lot of rushed passes that were either poor decisions or off the mark. A prime example of this was Findley's second goal when a clearance from Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer went straight to Findley, who easily dribbled around Hesmer and tapped the ball into an empty net.

People can say that the first two of Findley's goals were scrappy, and that's because they were. He was incredibly opportunistic and buried the easy chances. Will Johnson rifled a superb freekick that led to Findley's goal in the second minute of play. The power and the accuracy of Johnson's shot is what led to Hesmers poor deflection and ultimately Findley scoring the goal.

Findley's header, that ironically completed the hat trick, was pure quality. Rising high above his defender he pounded the ball back across the goal, and behind Hesmer's momentum. Beckerman crashing the near post on a corner, for the fourth RSL goal, was also textbook. If my youth coaches would have been watching I'm sure they would have paused the tape and pointed out Beckerman's movement to the near bar and Nat Borchers shifting to the far bar. Great set piece execution from Salt Lake.

A surprising aspect of RSL's play in their first two games this season is the role of Clint Mathis. I'll admit, last year I was leery of Cletus' return to the Claret-and-Cobalt. With the expectations of his past in mind I was quick to point out his faults when he would fail to score goals. But scoring goals is not what Mathis is about this time around. I've realized in the last week that Mathis is, in a sense, the glue. Javiar Morales is the playmaker and lead creator on this team, there is no arguing that. But, Mathis is the steady presense that keeps things moving. He'll provide devastating passes, as we saw in Seattle when he led Movsisyan on a breakaway in the second half. He'll track back and chase the ball down when ever Salt Lake doesn't have it.

At the Rio Tinto Stadium Open House someone next to me asked if I was a Clint Mathis fan or hater. I weaseled out of an answer by stating some plus and some minuses about the player. But, after seeing his performance so far this season, I would have to say I'm sliding more toward a Mathis supporter.

After getting torched for his performance in Seattle, I find it only fair to point out that Tony Beltran did a lot to restore my trust on Thursday night. He looked much more comfortable, and had a much better time tracking the Crew attackers. This might be an indicator of the quality the Sounders possess, but either way Beltran was much improved in his second match this season.

And finally, there has to be something said about Yura. The man is giving every ounce of effort in trying to score goals, and it hasn't happened yet. In Seattle he missed a blatant sitter, and at home against Columbus he just couldn't get that final touch to go in. His work rate, like everyone of the players under head coach Jason Kreis, is topnotch. He's getting himself in dangerous situations, and I think the goals will come. Although, if he continues to be in those spots and fails to score soon his confidence could suffer. There are only so many times a player can miss before he starts to wonder if he can ever make it. But, I don't think that Movsisyan has reached that point yet.

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1 Comments:

At 8:56 PM, Blogger Matt said...

As sad and scary as it is, I have to agree with you. Kreis has found Mathis' role on the team. I haven't yelled at him once yet this season. He looks really good, and I like it.

 

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