RSL players hope season ends with strong outing

You'd think Real Salt Lake's players and coaches would be glad its often abysmal inaugural season is finally coming to a close. After all, even though the team has been a success generating attendance and sponsors, the product on the field hasn't lived up to the hype.

When the season started, the club insisted it wasn't a typical expansion team and was targeting an MLS playoff berth.

Six months later, as the team prepares for tonight's regular-season finale against Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 7:30, things clearly haven't gone according to plan.

With one game remaining, instead of trying to surpass Colorado for a playoff berth, RSL is simply trying to avoid finishing with the worst record in 2005. Salt Lake (5-21-5, 20 points) needs a win or a draw against Colorado to hold off fellow expansion team Chivas USA (4-21-6, 18 points) in the Western Conference standings.

That's a reality RSL's players are well aware of, and the main reason they want to keep plugging away in 2005. There's a level of unfinished business this year's team would like to keep working on.

"We definitely didn't meet expectations," said RSL midfielder Andy Williams. "I think we have a squad that can compete in MLS, but for some reason we never played consistently this year."

A perfect example of that is last Saturday's 2-2 tie at San Jose — the Supporter's Shield recipients as the best team in the regular season.

Despite playing a solid first half, RSL let in a pair of goals late in the half, and as a result trailed 2-0 at the break. Spurred on by the fresh legs of some second-half subs, Salt Lake battled back and ultimately halted its 14-game road losing streak.

RSL coach John Ellinger hopes his club mimics its second-half San Jose effort throughout the game against Colorado.

While Ellinger is focused on the Rapids, there's no question he's already thinking ahead to 2006. He's already tinkering in his mind about which players are staying and which players are going.

"It's not about a lack of loyalty to existing players, it's just a matter of . . . finding players that are going to make you better," said Ellinger. "The players know we have to get better, and they're going to have to fight for jobs next year."

Aside from the keeper position, where D.J. Countess replaces Jay Nolly in goal, Ellinger will utilize the same starting 11 against Colorado that he did against San Jose.