Substitutions give Real Salt Lake a spark

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Leading up to Saturday's big finale at Colorado, Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis talked about how he was going to have some tough lineup decisions to make with all his squad's healthy bodies.

Looking back on some of his initial choices, they didn't go so well.

In the biggest match of the season, Kreis opted not to start Andy Williams and Robbie Russell. Russell had been in the starting lineup for all four matches of RSL's four-game unbeaten streak, whereas Williams had started three of those matches and had played a key role as a substitute in his team's win over FC Dallas last week.

With those two on the bench, RSL's midfield wasn't strong at all. Kreis even said his midfield was getting pushed around far too easily.

Williams was itching to get in the entire time.

"I don't want to be greedy, but I wanted to go in at halftime. I had a feeling if we kept it 0-0, 1-0 at halftime, thought we had a good chance. I didn't think they'd be able to keep us off the board tonight," said Williams.

Kreis opted to play it safe and let the second half play out just a bit first.

"Sometimes if you do those subs a little too early sometimes you're hamstrung. I think it was the right decision," said Kreis.

Both Williams and Russell eventually entered the match as substitutes around the 55th minute, but by that point RSL already trailed 1-0 and had essentially wasted 55 minutes playing sloppy soccer. Once the duo came onto the field, RSL was immediately better. It possessed the ball much better and as a result was actually a dangerous team in the offensive side of the field.

Until the 90th minute, however, it looked as if the lineup decisions, both who to start and when to bring in replacements, might be costly.

It was only fitting that Williams and Russell each played a major hand in the goal, with Russell setting up Williams, whose shot was saved but created the rebound for Yura Movsisyan's tying goal.

"I kept telling myself on the bench that it's going to come, it's going to come. But I don't know that all of me believed that. The way it comes there at the last moment, and having Andy Williams involved in that goal for me is unbelievable," said Kreis.

PLAYOFF TICKETS: Tickets are now on sale for RSL's first playoff game next Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The match with Chivas USA kicks off at 4 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at riotintostadium.com. RSL account executives will also be available to help customers today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling (801) 924-8585. Ticket prices begin at $20.

STRONG SUPPORT: It's not often in MLS that visiting teams have a strong contingent of fans in the stands. That wasn't the case for RSL on Saturday in Colorado.

An estimated 300 fans made the trek to Denver for the regular season finale between Colorado and RSL. The strongest contingent of fans was located in Section 135 and 136, but there were also small pockets of fans scattered throughout the stadium.

Nat Borchers, a native of Colorado, also had a strong show of support from his friends and family.

---

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com

Recent comments