RSL shifts attack to beef up its offense

When Real Salt Lake plays FC Dallas tonight for the second time this season, there will be so many changes that it will be hard to recognize many similarities. Most notably, the changes will be in personnel, formation and atmosphere.

With the absence of Eddie Pope, Marlon Rojas, Leslie Fitzpatrick and Dipsy Selowane to their respective national teams, RSL is forced to mix up its players. Because of a lack of execution — the team has not scored in its previous two games — Real is going away from its 4-5-1 lineup and shifting to a 3-5-2. What it means, is instead of having four defenders, five midfielders and one forward, the team will play with three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.

"We figured we could put a little more pressure on our opponents defensively and give us a little more bite in the center midfield," said coach John Ellinger.

With the shift, Clint Mathis is moving back to a forward position.

"I think we just need more people in the attack to get more chances," said Mathis. "If you look at the team and the people we have, it is going to be better to have me go up. Get more in the attack instead of Jason (Kreis) up there by himself trying to take two or three guys."

Ellinger said that it is only natural to move Mathis up to team with Kreis, "When we first brought those two guys here, it was kind of what we had envisioned, that striking partnership," he said.

The changes also created a great opportunity for first-round draft choice Nik Besagno. He will get his first MLS start at a holding midfield position. When the game kicks off, he will be the second-youngest player to ever play in a MLS game.

"It's like a dream come true," said Besagno. "It's something I have wanted to do since I was a little kid. I've worked my whole life for it, and it's finally happening."

The fact that it is happening on such a grand stage is not lost on Besagno. "I'm excited for it. First time playing in front of some 40,000 people. I am a little bit nervous but is a little different than playing in front of 16,000 or 17,000 people, but it's just part of the game."

Although he is only 16, and just graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago, his teammates and coach have every confidence in Besagno that he can get the job done.