Adversity is part of sports, and while every team faces adversity, only the greatest find a way to overcome it. Real Salt Lake has already encountered adversity this season in the form of a rash of injuries while facing one of MLS’s most difficult early-season schedules. How has it reacted to this challenge?
Magnificently.
With its draw last night against Sporting KC, RSL bagged another road result in spite of a depleted lineup and a top-flight opponent. The shutout at hostile Sporting Park was keyed by an 8-save performance from RSL backup goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, whose highlight reel saves preserved RSL’s third shutout of the season.
Going into last night’s match, RSL was without four regular starters, as Tony Beltran, Joao Plata, Nick Rimando, and Chris Wingert all sat out nursing injuries. Filling their roles were Rich Balchan, Olmes Garcia, Attinella, and Abdoulie Mansally. The result was a bend-but-don’t-break lineup that accomplished its primary mission of not conceding a goal.
Most of the quality chances in this game came from Sporting KC. The 11th minute brought the match’s first great opportunity, as Dom Dwyer got behind the RSL defense for a one-on-one opportunity. But Attinella quickly closed down Dwyer’s shooting angle and then correctly read the striker’s hips, making a diving save on Dwyer’s far-post attempt. Additional quality chances for SKC went begging in the 34th minute, with Attinella providing a stunning save on Benny Feilhaber’s full volley from a long throw-in; the 51st minute, as Graham Zusi’s open shot from just outside the six-yard box went wide; and again in the 63rd minute, when Sal Zizzo’s shot was cleared off the line by Nat Borchers after Attinella had been drawn out of his net to close down another Dwyer breakaway.
RSL got a break late in the second half as a reckless challenge by Oriol Rosell resulted in a straight red card to the Sporting midfielder. The ensuing advantage permitted RSL to control possession for the final ten minutes of the match, but the Claret-and-Cobalt were unable to capitalize and ultimately ended the night with a single shot on goal.
Sporting KC’s pressure created problems for RSL from the opening whistle. RSL struggled to complete passes in the midfield and attacking thirds, resulting in the team’s lowest passing accuracy (73%) and lowest possession (43.1%) of the season. The Claret-and-Cobalt were outshot on the night by a 20 to 5 margin.
But in the end, the score line is all that matters, and Real Salt Lake escaped Kansas City with a point in hand and a still-undefeated record.
Storyline Wrap Up
- Effects of International Play. The midweek international match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico certainly had an impact on the game. Unexpectedly, that impact was decidedly one-sided: Graham Zusi and Matt Besler returned and played 90 minutes for SKC. For RSL, on the other hand, Nick Rimando (knee) and Tony Beltran (sprained ankle) were both unavailable due to injury.
- Injury: It’s What’s for Dinner. Time lost to injury has been a recurring theme thus far this season for RSL. The squad has fielded 17 different starters through five matches and has yet to start the same lineup in consecutive games yet this season. Only Nat Borchers, Kyle Beckerman, and Alvaro Saborio have played every minute of RSL’s five games. Yet, against that backdrop, RSL has nevertheless taken points against all of its opponents. Those opponents are no slouches: three of RSL’s opponents finished 2013 with more than 50 points (L.A. Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting KC) and the fourth opponent is perfect in its other games this season (Toronto FC, 3-0-0 in its other matches).
- He Hate Me. Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake traded barbs through the press in the week preceding last night’s match. That didn’t stop after that match ended, although the post-game jawing did seem to be good-natured smack talk instead of hate-filled rhetoric. Take a look at this epic exchange between injured RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando and SKC striker Dom Dwyer:
Before running his mouth this young forward should concentrate on his team and his finishing first.
— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) April 6, 2014
@NickRimando "I hate them very much" 😁really running my mouth huh, you really are behind the times! We missed you tho, would have been 3-0!👴
— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) April 6, 2014
@Ddwyer14 just not sure why you hate us, it was Cruz Azul that embarrassed you not us. If anything be mad @Jeff_Attinella1 and the post.
— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) April 6, 2014
@NickRimando they did embarrass us but the next day at training I got my ring sized and felt better! How did u guys do in Champions League?😊
— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) April 6, 2014
@Ddwyer14 it's all good dude, u played a good 76 minutes until u got subbed. Congrats on your ring. The FIRST one always feels great. Night.
— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) April 6, 2014
@NickRimando thanks mate, banter aside nothing but respect for you and what you've done through your career! All the best
— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) April 6, 2014
Predictions Wrap Up
- Aurelien Collin will receive a red card. Well, I’m claiming half-credit for this one. SKC did get a red card, but it was on Oriol Rosell instead of Collin. My prediction of a Collin red card was based on my belief that Karma needed to throw RSL fans a bone, and it sort of did so in another way. +0.5
- Foul Fest 2014. There were plenty of fouls in this one, and (unsurprisingly) most of them came from Sporting KC (14 for SKC to 6 for RSL). I predicted 29 fouls. Even though the refereed signaled for advantage a number of times, I don’t think he did so enough to go from 20 fouls to 29. No points
- Javi gets a goal. Oh, please. No one got a goal. No points
- A rough game will even out possession. I said RSL would end up with possession under 52.0% due to the difficulty of maintaining possession against a physical opponent. RSL ended up with 43.1% possession, which is certainly lower than 52%. I almost feel like I shouldn’t give myself credit here because this guess was way too conservative. But I’ll take credit where I can get it. +1
- Outcome. I correctly called a draw (2-2), but completely overshot on the total goals scored. Half-credit. +0.5
This Week: 2/5
(image courtesy of Allison Long/The Kansas City Star)
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