Real Salt Lake blog

June 27, 2009 | 2 entries | RSS

7

Toronto at RSL player grades

James Edward
DeseretNews.com blogger | June 27, 2009 at 11:09 p.m.

Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake Player Analysis

Each game this year Deseret News staff writers will grade individual performances from Real Salt Lake's players using the following scale:

1 -- Truly once-in-a-lifetime poor performance
2 -- Horrifyingly bad
3 -- Very poor
4 -- Poor
5 -- Below average
6 -- Average
7 -- Above average
8 -- Outstanding
9 -- Sensational
10 -- Truly once-in-a-lifetime outstanding performance

Here are the grades for RSL's starting 11 and substitutes:

Nick Rimando (7) - Only had to make two saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season.
Chris Wingert (7) - Seemed to be more active than normal, a sign his confidence is growing in the 4-3-3 formation.
Nat Borchers (7) - Set the tone early with a hard challenge on Chad Barrett, and was solid from start to finish.
Robbie Russell (7) - Was solid in his first start since receiving the red card against Colorado a few weeks back.
Tony Beltran (7) - Quietly had a nice evening. It wasn't anything flashy but he always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time.
Kyle Beckerman (7) - In his Gold Cup farwell, Beckerman was active and finished with a goal. It could've easily been two goals though.
Ned Grabavoy (8) - Had a very good game at holding midfield, something RSL will need in the coming weeks with Will Johnson and Beckerman away at the Gold Cup.
Javier Morales (7) - Continues to rediscover his creative spark finishing with an assist in addition to creating several other opportunities.
Clint Mathis (8) - The man of the match finished with a goal and an assist and always seemed to be in the attacking mix.
Yura Movsisyan (7) - Opportunitistic finish put RSL ahead early, and his speed really gave Toronto's slow center backs fits all night.
Fabian Espindola (5) - Was active, and sent a few nice crosses into the box, but he seemed to hang his head the final half hour after he failed to put away what should've been a routine header on a corner kick.

Substitute grades:

Andy Williams (7) - Replaced the injured Morales in the 75th minute and was very active during his time on the field.
Ian Joy (6) - Played the final seven minutes in his first appearance of the season.
Tino Nunez (6) - Was on the field for less than a minute.

There you have it, our grades from the Toronto match, but what do you think?

Recent comments

Read all 7 comments

Agreed that Espindola's rating is way off. What about the possession...

Millertime | June 29, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.

Olave!!

I say let him sit out for a couple of games unless...

Guess who I didn't miss??? | June 29, 2009 at 11:26 a.m.

I am sure you were sitting down in your lazy-chair to not appreciate...

Re: Unbelievable | June 29, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.

0

Week 15 picks

James Edward
DeseretNews.com blogger | June 27, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.

Only five games are on tap this weekend, and several look like no-brainers when it comes to making picks. In the unpredictable MLS, however, you just never know.

New York at Columbus
With a loss on Wednesday at Toronto, and tonight's inevitable loss at Columbus, it's hard to imagine coach Juan Carlos Osorio lasting another week as New York's head coach. Columbus 3-0.

Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake
RSL is winless in its last three home games, but that should change tonight. Toronto is as unpredictable as RSL, but fatigue could be an issue with Toronto coming off a win over New York on Wednesday. RSL 2-1.

Colorado at Seattle
With the slew of ties these teams have been settling for in the past month and a half, it's hard to imagine this clash ending any other way. Draw 2-2.

Houston at L.A. Galaxy
The Galaxy have lost two straight, and there's no reason to think it won't be three straight after the Dynamo come to town in the midst of an 11-game unbeaten streak. Houston 2-0.

Week 2 record: 0-7
Week 3 record: 4-4
Week 4 record: 1-6
Week 5 record: 3-3
Week 6 record: 5-2
Week 7 record: 2-5
Week 8 record: 2-7
Week 9 record: 2-5
Week 10 record: 5-2
Week 11 record: 2-4
Week 12 record: 2-4
Week 13 record: 4-3
Week 14 record: 1-4

Season Record: 33-57

Note: With three options in soccer picks, 33% would be considered average.

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Blog archive

June 27

» Toronto at RSL player grades

» Week 15 picks

June 26

» Williams declines Jamaican invite

June 23

» RSL to take on the Ogden Outlaws tonight

2009 archive

Jan., Feb., March, April, May, June

2008 archive

Feb., March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

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