Real Salt Lake wraps up first Qwest Field practice

SEATTLE — In the first of two training sessions at Qwest Field over the next two days, Real Salt Lake worked almost exclusively on technical stuff today to acclimate itself to the turf.

"Turf always takes a little time to get used to. I think the turf in Seattle is better than most. It's still turf. It's good that we got here a couple days early to get a couple days on it to get a real feel for it," said Robbie Russell.

Fellow defender Nat Borchers echoed that sentiment as RSL prepares for this Sunday's MLS Cup against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Today was really about getting our first touch about us, it's really easy for the ball to skip away from you if you don't have a good first touch," said Borchers.

That's what happened to Real Salt Lake in its season opener at Qwest Field against the Seattle Sounders back in March.

RSL will need to be much more precise with its passing this time around on the wet turf. The ball skips and rolls much quicker than it does on grass, which Russell admits changes the way you can pass the ball into space.

"You can play into space a little bit, but you have to bounce the ball a lot earlier. You can't land it on his foot in space you gotta land it 20 feet earlier so it rolls. It will have to be more at people instead of leading them in places," said Russell.

While today's training session focused almost exclusively on the technical aspect to the game, coach Jason Kreis admitted there other motives behind that decision as well.

"We do have to pay attention that it's a harder surface so you can't put your team through a regular session two days before the match so we went very light and just did technical stuff today," said Kreis.

RSL trains at Qwest Field again on Saturday at 10 a.m. (MDT), which figures to be another light practice.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com