REAL SALT LAKE
GRINDS OUT ANOTHER ROAD POINT VIA
0-0 DRAW AT NEW YORK
Utah Side’s Club-record MLS Undefeated
Streak Improves to 12 Games;
RSL Closes Out Home Portion of
Regular Season Schedule Next Saturday in Marquee Match-up with FC Dallas
HARRISON, N.J. (Saturday, October 9, 2010)
– Another road game, another road result for Real Salt Lake (14-4-10, 52
pts), which battled the New York Red Bulls (14-8-6, 48 pts.) to a 0-0
draw in front of 20,829 fans in the Utah side’s first visit to Red Bull
Arena. The match between the two Supporters Shield hopefuls saw chances early
from both squads – including an Andy Williams shot that caught the right post
flush just nine minutes in – but evolved into an increasingly physical affair,
with neither side able to create much danger as the match carried on, both
defenses holding their ground until the end to force a sharing of the points.
Real
Salt Lake Match Notes
- Today’s result put Real Salt Lake’s run for its
first-ever Supporters Shield crown on thin ice, as the Utah side now sits
on 52 points, four behind the Los Angeles Galaxy, with both teams having a
pair of games remaining.
- Real Salt Lake’s club-record undefeated streak in League play improved to 12 matches (5-0-7) with the draw. The defending MLS Cup champs have now dropped just one match in their last 23 MLS contests dating back to April (13-1-9).
- Real Salt Lake’s staunch defensive effort moved the
squad one step closer to a pair of MLS records. With just two games remaining,
Real Salt Lake’s 18 goals allowed is five less than Houston’s 23 GA in
2007, while the Utah side’s 11 goals allowed on the road is one less than
the 2007 mark set by D.C. United with one away tilt remaining. RSL’s
dominant defense has allowed just seven goals in its last 18 matches, a
stretch that includes 12 clean sheets.
- Goalkeeper Nick Rimando was forced into only one save on the day en route to his MLS-best 13th shutout of the season. The clean sheet was the 73rd of his illustrious MLS career, putting him now just one behind third-place Joe Cannon (SJ) and two behind second-place Zach Thornton (CHV) in the category. Rimando’s 0.64 goals against average is second in the League this season only to FC Dallas netminder Kevin Hartman’s 0.62, and is easily the best of his 11-year career (1.00 in 13 games in 2004 with D.C. United).
- Today’s draw brings RSL’s away record on the season to 4-4-6
and improves the team’s single-season record for road points to 18. RSL
will get one more opportunity to bump that total up when it closes out the
Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry series and its regular season schedule on Oct.
23 at the Colorado Rapids.
- After losing its first match-up of the season against Eastern Conference opposition (0-1 L at CLB on April 24), Real Salt Lake was a beast against the East, today’s result bringing its undefeated streak against the East to 15 games (10-0-5).
- It will be the immoveable object against the unstoppable force next Saturday, October 16, when Real Salt Lake will close out the home portion of its 2010 regular season slate by playing host to FC Dallas at Rio Tinto Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. MT kickoff [live on KUTV 2.1 / Comcast 2 (SD) & 654 (HD)]. Fan Appreciation Night in Sandy will see each team putting a MLS record a stake, as RSL will look to improve its 24-match home unbeaten run, while FC Dallas will do the same with its 12-game road undefeated streak. The Texans were the last team to down Real Salt Lake in League action, defeating RSL 2-0 at Pizza Hut Park all the way back on July 17.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
NEW YORK RED BULLS 0 : 0
REAL SALT LAKE
REAL SALT
LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On today’s match:
“I think we did enough to
perhaps earn the three points, but all in all it was a fairly even game. I
think we were also a little fortunate not to give anything away, probably a
just result.”
On how even the game was:
“Yeah, I thought there were some
moments when some really nice things were happening. Creating the chances that
we did, hitting the post twice, Javier (Morales)’s great free kick. You have to
feel good about that stuff, but still… I’m still a little worried about the
team’s energy level.”
On how exhausting traveling
is before the game:
“To be in New England last weekend, and
then have to come back all the way over here this weekend I think that is a
huge, huge reason why I don’t think the energy level is where it should be. But
give credit to the guys, I think that as the game went on our energy level was
better and better and better. I think we were actually working harder at the
end of the game than we were at the beginning.”
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER
KYLE BECKERMAN
On the match:
“It was what you expected, not
trying to give anything away. It was a good hard fought match. You know we are
on the road, it’s a little different. I think they had the first half, but we
had the better chances. On the second half, I thought we controlled the
midfield a little better… Just two teams going at it and not much separating
them.”
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER
JAVIER MORALES
On today’s match:
“It was an even match, they had
their chances. But in my opinion we had the clearest options, we had two balls
that hit the post, two missed penalty calls, (Greg Sutton) made two very
good saves. Looking back at the
game, I don’t think (Nick) Rimando had to make any saves and they didn’t have
any clear scoring opportunities… It was an even game but I think we deserveD
the three points, they had control of the ball but we created the scoring
chances.”
On how the result affects the
race for the Supporter’s Shield:
“It’s a tough situation, there
are only two games left and I believe (Los Angeles) have a four point
difference on us. It’s tough, they would have to lose the next two games and we
would have to win our remaining matches. But overall I’m very pleased with the
team’s season.”
On the team’s performance
going into the playoffs:
“Hopefully we can keep the
momentum going into the playoffs, playing solid away and home matches.
Hopefully we can continue playing the same way we have been doing it all season
long.”
On the pressure of defending
the MLS Cup:
“I don’t believe there is a lot
of pressure. We have a ton of energy and a lot of people that believe in us, in
comparison to last year when nobody trusted us. We are one of the favorites but
I don’t feel any pressure going into the playoffs.”
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH HANS BACKE
On the game:
“It was a very tight game, it
never really opened up. There weren’t many scoring chances, it was very tight
throughout. They (Real Salt Lake) are very strong in the back and they can
defend well. This is a type of game when two teams are in good shape, are well
organized, so a result of a tie is OK.”
On the midfield play:
“I think it was even on the midfield.
We played almost three central midfield players to compete with their four
players. I think it was a very even game, and both midfields couldn’t really
create the big chances because of good defending.”
On Juan Agudelo’s play off
the bench:
“He is closer. I think he is
ready to get more minutes. It’s difficult to say in which position depending on
which system we use. He almost had a great assist for a goal. He has power, he
has pace, and he’s ready to get more minutes soon.”
On Tim Ream’s play:
“I think he made some errors in
the beginning when he played a little naïve in our build up, but after 20-30
minutes he was rock solid. He played a bit tough, he has to be tougher in his
50-50 balls. He is very composed on the ball, but he has to win more tackles as
a centerback. But he lifted his game after 20-30 minutes and was rock solid.”
On Rafa Marquez’s play:
“I think we have to go for 90
minutes with both Thierry (Henry) and Rafa (Marquez). We have just two games to
go, Philly and New England, to be ready fitness wise to go into the playoffs. I
think they’re coming closer and closer, but to be fair to the players I still
think they need a preseason to be back at full strength.”
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER
TIM REAM
On the team defense:
“It’s not one guy. We emphasize
team defense and Carlos (Mendes) did a good job of slowing the ball up. That’s
what we work on. Slow the ball up and you’re going to have help coming.
Fortunately I was the help and I got there, made some tackles, and danger was
averted.”
On the luck of the Red Bulls’
defense:
“I think we’re a little bit
fortunate. At the same time, they didn’t really create anything on the ground
through the middle. I think we were a bit unfortunate not to finish some of our
chances. I think it works both ways. You’re always going to feel fortunate that
maybe they missed a few, and you’re going to feel unfortunate that we missed a
few. That’s just how the game goes.”
On expecting a physical game:
“Because of the way (Kyle)
Beckerman plays. (Alvaro) Saborio is a big target forward and he likes to throw
his weight around. (Robbie) Findley is no slouch either. Even though he’s small
and quick, he can be physical when he wants to be. It’s just the way the game
is. You can’t take any team lightly, and you’ve got to be physical with
anybody.”
NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER
MEHDI BALLOUCHY
On the physicality of the
game:
“To be honest with you, it was
fun being involved in it because everybody was fighting for their team. I’m
happy that our team can pass the ball, but we can be physical when we need to.”
On the difficulty of
establishing an offensive flow:
“It was because of the way they
play. They play with a four diamond in the middle. For me to come in the middle
and to get the ball and turn would be impossible. So when I come in, I try to
get everyone involved whether it’s Rafa [Marquez], Tony [Tchani] or the outside
backs. I think we did a good job of switching the play and once we switched the
play, Roy (Miller) got forward, Chris (Albright) got forward and I think that
was good.”
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