RSL Reserves Draw 1-1 with Mexico U-21s

RSL RESERVES DRAW 1-1 WITH MEXICAN UNDER-21 NATIONAL TEAM
Teams Trade Second Half Goals in Hotly-contested Friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium;
Real Salt Lake Returns to League Play Next Saturday Night at Chivas USA

SANDY, Utah (Saturday, May 15, 2010) – The Real Salt Lake reserve squad was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Mexican Under-21 Men’s National Team today in an international friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium. The result pushes Real Salt Lake’s all-time record against international club and National Team competition to 6-4-4.

As has been the case in some of Real Salt Lake’s past friendlies, the home side was unafraid to mix it up with its international competitors, as the hotly-contested match ended with eight total cards and 33 fouls whistled between the two squads. Five cautions would be shown in the increasingly chippy contest before a goal was found, as RSL Reserve FW Pablo Campos would move the scoreboard in the 57^th minute, finishing off a square ball from MF Nelson Gonzalez with a 10-yard shot into the left side of goal.
The RSL Reserves would go down a man after an altercation between the sides saw the wrongful ejection of MF Jean Alexandre in the 68^th minute, forcing the Claret-and-Cobalt to play out the contest with 10 men. The home side would hold off repeated Mexico forays into the attacking third until the 84^th minute, when MF Erbin Trejo knocked home a 25-yard free kick with perfect placement into the upper right 90, forcing an eventual share of the spoils.
Real Salt Lake will return to Major League Soccer action next Saturday, May 22, with its lone road contest of May set to take place against Chivas USA (3-4-1, 10 pts.) at The Home Depot Center (8:30 p.m. MT kickoff, live on KUSG 2.2).
REAL SALT LAKE RESERVES  1  :  1  MEXICO U-21 NATIONAL TEAM
DATE: Saturday, May 15, 2010 -- Rio Tinto Stadium
Goals by Period        1          2          Tot

Mexico U-21s             0          1          1

RSL Reserves           0          1          1

Scoring:

RSL – Pablo Campos (Nelson Gonzalez) 57

MEX – Erbin Trejo (unassisted) 84

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-4-2) – GK-Kyle Reynish; DF-Lyle Adams, DF-Rauwshan McKenzie, DF-Chris Schuler, DF-Tony Beltran; MF-Collen Warner, MF-Luis Gil (Ned Grabavoy 62), MF-Jean Alexandre, MF-Nelson Gonzalez; FW-Pablo Campos, FW-Tiyi Shipalane

Statistics: Shots: 8; Shots on Goal: 2; Saves: 6; Fouls: 21; Corners: 3; Offside: 1

Mexico U-21s (3-4-3) – GK-Alejandro Dautt (Miguel Angel Centeno 45); DF-Jaime Ayala (Israel Jimenez 73), DF-Piccolo Rojo, DF-Hiram Mier; MF-Cesar Cercado (David Izazola 73), MF-Daniel Hernandez, MF-Erbin Trejo, MF-Moises Velasco; FW-Leopolodo Morales, FW-Armando Pulido (Jesus Duenas 54), FW-Antonio Salazar

Statistics: Shots: 17; Shots on Goal: 8; Saves: 1; Fouls: 12; Corners: 8; Offside: 1
Discipline Summary: 

RSL – Jean Alexandre (caution; Tactical Foul) 22

RSL – Nelson Gonzalez (caution; Tactical Foul) 40

MEX – Daniel Hernandez (caution; Verbal Distraction) 45

MEX – Moises Velasco (caution; Tactical Foul) 47

RSL – Lyle Adams (caution; Tactical Foul) 51

MEX – Alejandro Dautt (bench) (ejection; Abusive Language) 67

RSL – Jean Alexandre (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 68

MEX – Piccolo Rojo (caution; Verbal Distraction) 76

Referee: Jeff Young

Referee's Assistants: Brad Jensen, Alex Krelo

4^th Official: Brandon Major

Attendance: 3,469

Time of Game: 1:47

Weather: Sunny-and-65-degrees

All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
RSL Reserves Quote Sheet: DF Tony Beltran
On the RSL Reserves’ effort:
“Today was a big opportunity for a lot of players that don’t get to play regularly to step up and impress over 90 minutes against a good side. I was proud of our effort, we worked hard out there. I thought it went back and forth out there today.”
On playing against the Mexican U-21s:
“Ultimately they were a little more organized than us. They played a 3-5-2 at times and moved into a 3-4-3, and that was a system we were unfamiliar with so we had a little trouble with that organizationally. They play unlike any other MLS team – they are all very good on the ball and move it quickly and like to keep it on the ground. We knew that going into the game and we knew what we had to do defensively and how we were going to attack against them.”
On another physical friendly for RSL:
“It’s a little different than a friendly – that term really doesn’t apply. I think it’s the competitive nature of both teams. Once you get the ball out there and the whistle blows everyone’s just fighting, and that’s true of any game. We want to win these games just as much as any regular game. Guys are trying to impress and fight for positions, so no matter what it’s going to be competitive.”
On the pro-Mexican crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium:
“We expected that coming in, especially after playing Chivas and Club America last year. Those were two games that I really enjoyed last year, and the same with this one; we feed off the energy of any crowd, home or away. It’s fun to play in that atmosphere.”