Real Salt Lake's new approach leads to same result

No matter the approach or tactics, Real Salt Lake just can't quite seem to get things right. Such was the case Saturday night in San Jose.

Despite what coach Jason Kreis said should've been a possession-oriented approach, his team all too often deviated and went for the more direct approach. Yet even then, when a fantastic scoring opportunity presented itself in the opening 10 minutes RSL failed to capitalize.

"We felt if we did get a goal they might put their heads down, 'cause they're having a tough time, so maybe we were a little anxious to get that goal," said Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman. "We had the chance and we didn't put it away, and in this game you've got to bury your chances before they do."

That chance went begging, however, as Luis Miguel Escalada failed to put away an open shot following some excellent defense by Beckerman.

Frustration seemed to set in almost immediately after the missed opportunity.

Knowing they let an opportunity slip through the cracks early, the players seemed determined to make up for it right away. Instead of patiently trying to build the attack through the midfield, RSL was inclined to try and knock the ball over the top to Escalada or Fabian Espindola in hopes of another quick opportunity.

The longer Real Salt Lake went without that goal, the more the frustration set in.

"It's another game where there's too much urgency on our part, too much nervous energy, too much pressure to get the goal we've yet to get on the road. We've failed to play what were the simple options and just took a more direct route," said Kreis.

Perhaps the burden of not scoring in five previous road games finally caught up with Real Salt Lake. And even though Robbie Findley eventually snapped that 529-minute road scoring drought late in Saturday's game, RSL's troubles in the 80 minutes prior had long since sealed its fate.

Now, RSL finds itself in big trouble heading into the dog days of the MLS summer.

With just 11 points through 11 games, and only three points clear of the worst record in Major League Soccer, things definitely don't get easier in the coming weeks.

Heading into this weekend's match at Rio Tinto Stadium against streaking Colorado, Real Salt Lake already knows it will be without midfielders Beckerman and Javier Morales because of an accumulation of yellow cards. There's a good chance defender Jamison Olave will also be suspended once the league disciplinary committee takes a look at his elbow to Ryan Johnson's head late in Saturday's match.

If Olave's suspension indeed comes through, it will be the second time in four weeks Morales and Olave missed the same game.

Following a tough one at home this weekend, RSL hits the road games at Los Angeles and then Houston on back-to-back weekends.

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com