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Real Salt Lake snatches draw from jaws of victory

Fedor | 12:55 a.m. June 21, 2009

Now here I am, up past the midnight because goal in 89 minute will haunt my dreams on this night....but still, come on RSL fans, what a night it was. As I tuned to channel 2.2 I feel stream of hope flow thru my mind, much like last week. We are becoming strong team, full of heart. This Coach Jason is starting to win the minds of his team and tonight, we get the points. We will be there my fellow maniacs, with big home match at the majestic Rio Tinto next week we can't be stopped. Not even the floods in canyon and mighty rains will wash away hope of true RSL fandemonium. You can bet after week away from team that I will be leading the charge at the carnival ReAL with my "royal club" shirt on, my new scarf, David Archilenko signed shin guards, smoke makers, air horn, cow bell and flag of El Salvador. You can find me chanting my heart away, until I can no longer speak, and with this we will bring more victories for our beloved team. Goooooooooo RSL, GOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOO all the way!!!!!

Reporting and Ref bias or | 7:28 a.m. June 21, 2009

To report that lame PK as any part Rimandos fault is pure ignorance of soccer and it's rules. Consistence is all I ask out of the refs and journalist. Later Kamara takes out Rimando in a more blatant way "though tripped up". No yellow card is shown there. Refereeing in MLS is as suspect as in NBA ( that is pretty much calling it rigged) To say "either way rimando blocked" is to say you disagree with his assesment of the play which is biased (especially if you see the play) The referee tried to give the match to them but they could not capitalize. Someone tell MLS that if the officating continues this poorly we will go back to the NBA or watching Irainian election results.

Anonymous | 7:40 a.m. June 21, 2009

Very proud of the team last night. Great effort, team!

Comments continue below

Cam | 8:22 a.m. June 21, 2009

I'm becoming less and less a fan of Jamison Olave. That's 2 stupid red cards so far this season that easily could've been avoided. He cost us 2 points last night and 3 points earlier in the year. How much more of this can Coach Kries take before he really sits this guy down and tells him to settle down and use his brain. On the bright side, if you would've told me before the game that we'd be down a man and still earn a point at Houston, I would've taken it.

Proud of the team?? | 9:32 a.m. June 21, 2009

Another goal given up in the last two minutes and you're proud of the team?? This is what is wrong with soccer fans; they accept a tie. DOES WINNING MATTER ANYMORE IN SOCCER?

Horrible officials | 10:04 a.m. June 21, 2009

The pk awarded Houston was the worst pk call of all time. Ching runs in a plows Rimando down and gets a call. If you look at the 10 worst fouls in the game they were all on Houston yet they receive one yellow. Kamara just grabbed and pulled down anyone he could reach all night long and rarely was even called for a foul.

Officials need to learn that they are not there to try and find cards and pks. They are not there to unfairly award a goal to one team or another. They should do anything they can to avoid giving a pk or a card. Only give a pk if the foul or handball stopped a goal. I would never give a foul in the box away from the goal, or when a player could score but falls easily to try for a pk, or a handball that wasn't intentional or didn't block a goal. Fans, players, and coaches hate pk's and red cards. They should only be given when they blatantly prevented a likely goal or a players are hurting each other. Thats how officials in the big leagues do it.

astroboy | 10:58 a.m. June 21, 2009

I hate to pile on about the refs, but... I felt that the game was fairly evenly contested physically by both teams, but then you look at the fouls and cards and its heavily one sided against RSL. Like the NBA, you cant just look at the number of calls to determine consistent judgment from the refs, but it does make you wonder.

Thats not to excuse Olave's red however. They guy is a headcase, and if you think about it that little kick he gave kamara while sliding over the endline was probably his worst offense of the night and it went unpunished. If he were on another team, Id hate his guts. He's almost that guy you love to have on your team, but know everyone else hates him, but he may have crossed the line last night. Continuing to shoot the entire franchise in the foot for stupid mistakes is not acceptable.

But well done to the team, they overcame some obvious adversity and came away with a result.

winning | 11:08 a.m. June 21, 2009

is securing a draw away at the best team in the league.

re:winning | 11:21 a.m. June 21, 2009

I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE PATHETIC IN SPORTS THAN GOING IN TO A GAME AND JUST PLAYING WELL ENOUGH TO TIE. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOCCER FANS ARE CONTENT WITH MORAL VICTORIES.....I'M GLAD FANS OF REAL SPORTS AREN'T CONTENT WITH MORAL VICTORIES.

re:re:winning | 11:32 a.m. June 21, 2009

Your caps lock is on.

Our Reputation... | 11:48 a.m. June 21, 2009

After all, you didn't think ReAL would NOT concede a goal to such a strong team in the final 4 minutes did you?! We have a reputation to uphold.

I thought the first half was tremendous...every player was playing high intensity soccer and were thinking quickly on their feet. That second yellow was amateur play. Calm down Olave and play like you own the place ('cause you do). He was very strong in the first half...gave a lot of confidence to our back line. The "foul" and yellow on Rimando was mind-boggling! That muggy heat must've gotten to the ref...awful call!

Unfortunately we didn't know how to mark Ching (of all people) as he ran through 4 defenders to score unmarked! Late lapses seal our fate as mediocre once again.

I'll still cheer 'em on every game, but man that one stings! Go RSL.

nerves | 1:00 p.m. June 21, 2009

I was glad to see how the team played when we had all eleven on the field. I heard people talking earlier that teams scored against us when Russel was on the field. Houston scored after Russel was subbed on. Did Russel have anything to do with missing an assignment that let ching in?

I guess Horst is on loan and won't be available for Toronto, Johnson is gone for Gold cup, but that also means that DeRo, and Gavara will be out for Toronto.

I felt like justice was served when Rimando saved that pk. Rimando had his back to Ching and extended his arms to catch the ball. Ching kicked his arms out of the way and plowed him over. Ching got rewarded with a yellow card on Rimando and a pk. Nice.

Would have been nice to see us finish out with all eleven. We could have subbed Findley on for counter attacks instead of one defender after another.

Olave | 2:33 p.m. June 21, 2009

Stay on you feet and think before you cost us another game.

What ever happened to... | 3:52 p.m. June 21, 2009

RSL being hyped as the team to beat this year? I'll say it is a lack of passion and dumb dumb fouls. Blame the refs all you want, but Olave has cost us more than two wins due to his red cards. He misses his marks and gets caught ball watching resulting in goals for the other side

Snare | 4:05 p.m. June 21, 2009

After this game I hope the love fest with Olave is over. He cost us the Western Conference game against new york, and he got another stupid red card that was totally unneeded. I wish we didn't sign him on to an extension.

gp | 4:22 p.m. June 21, 2009

Don't be so hard on the team but even that Houston took a tie in the last minute of the game, Real played really good regarding of the weather over there.I know a victory could be sweet but still getting a tie in there is not bad,the team is getting there regarding the other times we lost on the road. Now is moving in a positive direction.

Ikaika7 | 4:57 p.m. June 21, 2009

Real should have one that game,Olave shouldn't of got a red, and the PK was pathetic. Houston is a good team and Stuart Holden should be playing for the US National team right now.

Chadders | 10:23 a.m. June 22, 2009

I can not believe this, everyone bagging on Olave. Ok let's all gloss over the fact that Ching had just grabbed him to the ground. Also that Kaadsfhasd(don't remember his name) stepped on his hand earlier. Olave didn't cost us the game. Borchers did. Once again on a last minute goal scored by the other team guess who is closest and should have stepped over and stopped it? Borchers again. How many times does this have to happen before everyone else notices? Borchers would probably start for about 6 teams in MLS but Olave would start for all 15. That ref couldn't have been more biased. The PK was the biggest joke ever. And if you are gonna give Rimando a yellow for that you have to give Kasdlfa a yellow for crashing into Rimando after he made a save. 5 yellows and a red for RSL against 1 for Houston. I thought that Napolean ref at the LA game here was the worst ref but MLS suprised me that there are worse still.

J Crunch | 10:31 a.m. June 22, 2009

I'm not sure how to feel about this game. On the one hand, the team pulled out a draw against the best team in the league on the road. On the other hand, if Russell had even attempted to mark Ching we would all be talking about a great road win. Russell has NOT impressed me at all. He does a nice job pushing forward, but he plays lazy. He watched as Ching went running past him to put in the tying goal. However, I felt as I was watching that it was inevitable that Houston would score. If Olave doesn't pick up the red, I wouldn't be so ticked about Russell right now. Oh well, I think the team has turned the corner and we'll see them moving up in the standings over the rest of the season.

Re: Chadders | 11:51 a.m. June 22, 2009

I disagree. Borchers played solid again last night and was not solely responsible for Ching's goal. Beckerman just let Ching run past him and then Beckerman stopped to cover no one. Borchers shut down a few attacks as well as keeping his side quiet most of the game. It's usually a good thing when you never hear your defender's name.

STEVE-O | 1:01 p.m. June 22, 2009

They're not losing. So to me they are improving!

STEVE-O | 1:06 p.m. June 22, 2009

RSL's midfeild needed to hold the ball better. I know they only had 10 guys but the last 20 minutes was RSL booting the ball out to nobody. If the Mids had been more composed on the ball it would have allowed our defense an opportunity to catch a break, or pull up the feild a bit. RSL just booted the ball and it came right back down their throat for 20+ minutes. Not many defenses will endure that without giving up a goal.
The goal by Ching was a good run and a good pass. I can't pin that play on ONE player. It was a team issue.

Chadders | 2:05 p.m. June 22, 2009

I'm not saying Borchers didn't play well. I am saying it was clear he should have been marking Ching. He was standing right next to him and he had someone (Russell who was in the correct position) to the back of Ching. If Borchers moves over toward the ball when the cross comes in we are talking about what a great win we had. What do you expect Beckerman to throw Ching down? Borchers is a very vanilla player and everyone acts like he is the most important defender. Granted he does a pretty good job most of the time, but he isn't anywhere near Olave in skill. If Olave didn't have "mental lapses" he would be playing in Europe, he is that good. I think the problem for Jamison is the refs are so wildly in consistent.

T-ravis | 2:45 p.m. June 22, 2009

MLS officials have got to be the worse in the world. Totally biased! Ching could have gotten away with murder. Kamara didn't get called for anything. And Weaver can go maul Rimando without consequence. Rimando saving that pk was sweet justice. But once again, RSL forget that a match lasts 90 minutes. I wouldn't blame any single person for not covering Ching, but the whole team. As a unit you need to pay attention to the other players and cover if needed. Especially when you're down a man. Please please RSL, play like you did on Saturday for a full 90 week in and week out. Then I could see us being a serious contender.

oh please | 7:46 p.m. June 22, 2009

There is only one real sport in the world and its soccer. If you knew anything about the sport at all you would know that most of the fans were dissapointed that we gave up a late lead but that it was still a good result considering they are the best team in the league!
Also if you would have watched the game(rather than be an internet board critic) you would've seen that the houston dynamo got bood off the field even though they tied it up late.. See it was basically a loss for them and a win for us. But you dont really care you have never even given the sport a chance..

todd to above | 1:10 a.m. June 23, 2009

it is a great sport, my favorite in the world. This whole town needs to embrace it. If this team gives 150 percent every week, there is no reason the stadium should not be packed, I am sure Fedor and others will make it electric for Saturday night.

toronto | 8:05 a.m. June 23, 2009

If I am right than Toronto should be without DeRo and Gavara on Saturday. That should be a very winable game for us. We will be missing Johnson, and Olave, but I think we will be ok.

Chadders | 10:09 a.m. June 23, 2009

I'm a little worried about Aleko Escandarian coming out of nowhere to stick it to us. Does anyone know if he is (A)Still on Toronto and (B)ever plays? I believe we can win because it is at home. Though sometimes the team get lax when they have "a winnable game". So I'll say we probably only win 2-1, even though Toronto isn't that good.

WHOAAA | 11:44 a.m. June 23, 2009

A tie is Soccer???? No way. That never happens.

J Crunch | 1:46 p.m. June 23, 2009

RE: Chadders

Eskandarian plays for Chivas. He came to RSL from Toronto and then went to Chivas. He has started 2 games and played in 7.

Chadders | 3:15 p.m. June 23, 2009

thanks J Crunch. I knew he was connected to us and Toronto somehow, I couldn't remember if we traded for him from or to Toronto. So I guess I don't really know much about them. A little hard to get too excited for playing them. I will get excited about us winning though.

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2 photos

James Nielsen, Associated Press

Houston's Geoff Cameron, right, collides with Real Salt Lakes Will Johnson in Saturday night's tie.

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Real Salt Lake snatches draw from jaws of victory

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Real Salt Lake snatches draw from jaws of victory