RSL practice focuses on defense

BRADENTON, Fla. — On the heels of a 5-1 loss in its first exhibition game, Real Salt Lake spent the majority of Wednesday's training session working on defense.

"Everything today was built on cleaning up ourselves defensively," said RSL coach John Ellinger.

Whether it was 4-vs.-1 drills or 6-vs.-6 drills, the underlying theme was to help the defenders get more acquainted with each other. After all, they need it.

In the team's first-ever scrimmage Tuesday, the expansion team chock-full of experienced players played like a confused squad.

"You have four guys, four different clubs and four different idea," said Ellinger. "It's all about getting it straight."

Salt Lake will also get a boost today with the arrival of Bosnian defender Senad Halilovic and supplemental draft pick Michael Lookingland, who is still attending classes at Bucknell while trying to juggle spring training.

Fresh off playing the full 90 minutes in the U.S. National Team's qualifier at Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday, defender Eddie Pope has been given permission from the team to join his wife in Salt Lake City until Saturday so they can look for a home in the area.

Trinidad defender Marlon Rojas, who also played the full 90 minutes in that game, will likely arrive sometime this weekend as well.

The addition of those four defenders will strengthen Salt Lake's defense almost as much as increased training.

SECOND SCRIMMAGE: When RSL faces the under-17 U.S. National Team in a scrimmage today, Ellinger said he'll start the same back four (Nelson Akwari, Matt Behncke, Brian Dunseth, Rusty Pierce) that he started against D.C. United on Tuesday.

"We'll play tomorrow with the emphasis being on strengthening the back four," said Ellinger, who said he will also replace Pablo Brenes with Luke Kreamalmeyer at the left midfield position.

While Salt Lake's defense will be a prime focus, one player in particular will have the watchful eye of Ellinger. Nikolas Besagno, who was Salt Lake's No. 1 pick in this year's MLS SuperDraft, will suit up for the U-17s to play against his future team.

It will be just the second time since Salt Lake arrived in Bradenton that Besagno has interacted with his future team. The first was very casual, and Ellinger wants to keep it that way.

"Once you get in the pro environment, you want to get there," said Ellinger. "That's your dream and passion."