Real Salt Lake: Beckham's back, but RSL wants a win this time
Things are different this time around — Beckham's 2008 visit to Utah isn't an exhibition.
The English soccer star is wearing an L.A. Galaxy jersey this time around, and the host side has no interest in being gracious.
"We know the significance of tomorrow, and we just need to come out and play like we're capable of playing," said RSL defender Chris Wingert. "We need to get wins; ties aren't good enough especially at home. We need to come out with that attitude; I think we will."
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m., with the match also being televised on KSL.
Even though it's a home match for RSL, the atmosphere should be similar to the season opener against Chicago with thousands of Latino fans on hand to root on Cuauhtemoc Blanco. This time the fans will be flocking to see Beckham.
That's just fine with Wingert.
"The guys are psyched about the fans; it's great when you get a lot of fans even if there's some rooting for him, that's OK," said Wingert. "When you hear people rooting for the other team or someone on the other team, it gets our fans going as well, they get a little louder."
Five matches into his second season in MLS, Beckham's proven he's no side show. He leads the league with four assists, and the Galaxy (2-2-1) are the highest-scoring team in MLS with 11 goals.
"Coming to Salt Lake two years ago ... I remember it being a tough game," said Beckham. "We got kicked a few times, which is always nice in soccer games; it helps you enjoy the game a lot more. We look forward to that again (today)."
Landon Donovan, the reigning MLS Player of the Month, has accounted for eight of those goals — twice the total of any other player in the league. For as efficient as L.A. has been on the attack, it's been anemic defensively, allowing 11 goals, second only to Chivas USA's 13 goals against.
RSL is hoping to expose the Galaxy deficiency early.
"That's what we're going to try and do is get on them early," said Beckerman. "Their team runs on Beckham and Donovan, but if we can stay on them and take it to their team then those guys aren't going to really do much. If it goes as planned, we'll be on top of them early, get the goals and then shut up shop."
In five previous meetings at Rice-Eccles Stadium RSL owns a 2-1-2 record against the Galaxy, with the lone tie coming last year. Donovan has scored two goals in those previous five games.
Just win five games into the season, RSL is entering an undeniable critical stretch of the season with four of its next six games at home.
"I wouldn't say it's do or die critical, but it's pretty dire that we get these two wins at home," said RSL midfielder Andy Williams, referring to next week's home match against FC Dallas. "It will help us get back in the thick of things in the West."
ENDLINES: This is L.A.'s first away match since dropping its season-opener at Colorado ... Gates for tonight's match open an hour early at 5 p.m. ... former RSL player Chris Klein has started all five games at defense for the Galaxy.
E-MAIL: james@desnews.com
You can be the first to comment on this story.