From Deseret News archives:

Real Salt Lake: Home turf proving to be no advantage

Published: Friday, July 4, 2008 12:09 a.m. MDT
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While Real Salt Lake remained unbeaten at home with its 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo, the result was also the third time in four games it settled for a scoreless tie on its home turf.

Real hasn't produced a goal in four of its last five, and has just 18 total in 16 games. The frustration at the lack of production is reaching a boiling point.

"I just can't buy a goal at the moment," said forward Kenny Deuchar. "I am disappointed. I am getting on the end of things and causing problems, but it is just tough."

The player nicknamed Dr. Goals is feeling the heat to match his name. He last scored against the L.A. Galaxy two months ago on May 3. Against the Dynamo, he had several good scoring chances including a header from point blank range that Houston keeper Pat Onstad was more in the way of than saved, but yet again he couldn't find the back of the net.

"I mean that header, one foot either way and it goes right past the keeper, but instead it is right at him," added Deuachar. "This is the worst streak I have ever had. I am getting the chances. I just got to keep working hard and put myself in there and hopefully one of them will get inside the posts."

The lack of production certainly doesn't lie only on the shoulders of Deuchar. Forward Robbie Findley has felt the pressure mounting as well.

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"We just need to keep doing what we are doing," said Findley. "We are working hard in practice and we just need that last touch. We are going to have to concentrate and get that finish because that is the only way we can win."

Team captain Kyle Beckerman had a golden opportunity early in the first half to halt the scoring problems. On a ball sent to him by Deuchar, he mis-hit his first touch just seven yards out from the goal and never got off a shot.

"The ball kind of bounced a little bit early and it caught me off guard," said Beckerman. "I probably should have just went for it and who cares if it goes over ... I am a little disappointed in myself. I should have buried it and I could have cost us."

Regardless of the quality of play, the number of shots — Real had 16 to the Dyanomo's 10 — or the dangerous opportunities, the ball in the net is all that is going to help RSL break out of its funk.

"I think our guys played a fantastic game. They created a lot of chances in the second half. You just have to figure that one of those is going to hit somebody's butt and go in or something. We just need a bounce to go our way, a little bit of luck," said coach Jason Kreis.


E-mail: mblack@desnews.com

Recent comments

Be nice to him. He thinks he's funny! Let's not shatter the only...

Real Utefan | July 5, 2008 at 12:39 a.m.

..He's a closet RSL fan. He is just here to help the soccer articles...

Reason for Utefan... | July 4, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.

RsL homem,
Don't show your ignorance. The first amendment applies...

RSL fanatico | July 4, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.

Image

Real Salt Lake's Kenny Deuchar gets his head on the ball before Houston's Bobby Boswell can get to it as RSL and the Dynamo fought to a 0-0 draw on Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

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