Real Salt Lake notebook: Movsisyan continues amazing resurgence

SANDY — Just a few weeks ago Yura Movsisyan looked lost on the soccer field.

After leading Real Salt Lake in scoring in 2008, he'd scored just one goal 12 games into the 2009 season and his confidence seemed shot.

It's amazing how quickly things have changed for the 21-year-old striker.

Movsisyan scored in the 21st minute of Saturday's win over Toronto FC, his third goal in the past four matches. The lone game during the stretch he didn't score was last week in Houston, but he was credited with the assist in RSL's lone goal in the 1-1 draw.

"It's a funny thing called form in soccer. In the beginning of the year he was putting too much pressure on himself to score goals," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "I think now he realizes he doesn't need to put that kind of pressure on himself."

Kreis says when Movsisyan does the little things, it keeps him focused and that's been a real point of emphasis in the past month.

HAPPY TRAILS: In the 34th minute of Saturday's win, Kyle Beckerman squandered a golden scoring opportunity with a very casual shot on the doorstep of the goal. Instead of hammering in the Movsisyan cross, he tried tapping it in, which Toronto keeper Stefan Frei easily saved.

"I kind of tried to place it a little bit too much instead of just smashing it, I was pretty upset with myself," said Beckerman.

Amazingly enough, Beckerman found himself in a similar situation just 10 minutes later, and this time he didn't waste. In his final game with his club before departing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the U.S. National Team, Beckerman volleyed home a Javier Morales cross shortly before halftime, giving RSL the 2-0 lead.

KREIS NOTE: RSL coach Jason Kreis was just as surprised as anyone to see the U.S. National Team upset Spain earlier this week to advance to today's Confederations Cup final in South Africa.

He's hopeful it has a positive impact in the stands for MLS.

"Being part of professional soccer, you realize you're still selling the game, still trying to attract the average sports fan to be a soccer fan," said Kreis. "So anytime there's anything out there that the American sports people are talking about soccer, anytime that happens it's a good thing for soccer in general and Major League Soccer in particular."

Kreis was particularly impressed by the United States' collective team effort against Spain, an effort it will need again Sunday against Brazil.

JOY MAKES HIS DEBUT: RSL defender Ian Joy made his first appearance of the season Saturday night replacing Tony Beltran in the 83rd minute. He'd missed the first 14 games of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the final preseason game back in March.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com