RSL 'D' holds this time

The result was the same as the season opener, but the feeling was certainly different for the defense and goalkeeper Nick Rimando after Real Salt Lake's 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Last week, RSL gave up an injury-time goal to fall into a 2-2 tie. The equalizer was mostly to blame on a mental mistake, a lack of communication at the back. In the game against Columbus, the defense and particularly Rimando did the job as the keeper picked up regular-season career shutout No. 37.

"Today, it was more important to come away with no mistakes in the back, and get a shutout and build on that," said RSL coach John Ellinger.

The seven-year veteran goalie, who played at UCLA before jumping to MLS, officially joined the team during training camp. Rimando's rights were originally acquired in the trade for Freddy Adu, but he never signed a contract with Real and was traded to New York. When Scott Garlick retired suddenly, RSL made a deal to bring him back and watched him earn the starting goalkeeper position.

"Nick played very well. He's a great goalkeeper," added Ellinger. "He is so quick. He comes out and cuts down the angle. When he does that, he takes a lot away from them if it is any kind of a break away."

Rimando's style is controlled aggression. Several times he came off his line to either take away a through ball, or to cut down the angle of the opponent.

"I like to play high (farther away from the goal)," said Rimando. If I can get to the ball and get it before their players get it, the trouble's gone. It is that in-between spot that you can't get caught up in."

It was Rimando's aggressive style, and some help from defender Eddie Pope, that stopped Columbus' best scoring opportunity. In the 14th minute, forward Jason Garey got behind the defense on a break away. Rimando came off his line and met Garey at the 18-yard line. Garey dribbled wide of the keeper and tried to cut a shot back into the net, but Pope had raced back and cleared the ball off the line.

"You don't leave your goalkeeper out to dry," said Pope. "Nick did a great job of forcing him out wide. I knew he would have to try to cut it back, so I had time to get back and clear it off."

Although Rimando did not get an official save on that play, he did on five other shots, bringing his season save total to nine and his goals-against average down to only one. But Rimando feels that the defense and himself are only beginning to show what they can accomplish.

" In anything you do, the more you practice, the more you play, you get more and more comfortable and a little bit better," he said of becoming familiar with the club and teammates. "As each week goes on I expect us to get better both from the team, and I expect it from myself. I think we are going to be a great team."

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E-mail: mblack@desnews.com