Final
Earthquakes-Real Salt Lake Preview
Jun 24, 2010 - 3:03 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS WriterSan Jose (5-4-2) at Real Salt Lake (7-3-2), 9:00 p.m. EDT
As Robbie Findley and the United States celebrate one of the biggest wins in the country's soccer history some 10,000 miles away, his MLS club has had plenty of time to enjoy its most significant victory of the season.
Defending champion Real Salt Lake won an MLS Cup rematch heading into the World Cup break, and it can extend its home unbeaten streak to 17 in its first game back Friday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Findley and the U.S. are through to the knockout stage of the World Cup after Wednesday's thrilling 1-0 victory on Landon Donovan's stoppage-time goal, ensuring Bob Bradley's club will continue its run Saturday, a day after MLS returns from its two-week break.
The U.S. teammates played a big role in their respective league sides advancing to the 2009 MLS Cup but were already in South Africa during a June 9 rematch. Javier Morales scored in the 80th minute, lifting Salt Lake to a 1-0 victory that was Los Angeles' first loss since the championship game.
"This is going to help in our confidence," forward Pablo Campos told RSL's official website. "We already beat the first in the league, and we're going to grow as a team. It's great."
In addition to stopping the Galaxy's unbeaten streak, Salt Lake (7-3-2) extended a few of its own. RSL is 6-0-1 in league play since a 1-0 loss at Columbus on April 24 and 11-0-5 at Rio Tinto Stadium since May 16, 2009.
Real has outscored opponents 15-5 in six home matches, the largest goal difference in the league.
"Over on the bench, I was thinking to myself before the match, during the match, after the match - our crowd was absolutely fantastic," coach Jason Kreis said.
The goal was Morales' first in MLS play since the Argentinian midfielder scored twice in a 3-0 season-opening road win over San Jose (5-4-2). Morales has four goals and four assists in six games against the Earthquakes.
Aside from Morales, San Jose will need to contain Alvaro Saborio. All five of the Costa Rican striker's goals have come at home, but he hasn't had a goal or an assist in the past two matches. He hasn't had a three-game drought this season.
San Jose, meanwhile, is in the midst of one. The Earthquakes have conceded eight goals in going 0-1-2 in their past three matches, falling 2-0 at FC Dallas on June 5.
Perhaps the likely debut of Sam Cronin will get San Jose back on track. The Earthquakes acquired the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft from Toronto FC on Monday in exchange for allocation money.
Cronin had a solid rookie season but sat our more games (five) than he started (four) in 2010 under new coach Preki.
With the news that Andre Luiz will miss the rest of the season due to knee surgery, Cronin is expected to step in as an attacking center midfielder.
"It gives us a guy that plays in the middle of the field," coach Frank Yallop said. "He's a guy that's done well in the league, but not yet played in his natural position."
- MLS UPDATE
SAN JOSE 0
REAL SALT LAKE 0 FINAL
Jun 25 10:58 PM - MLS UPDATE
SAN JOSE 0
REAL SALT LAKE 0 END 2ND HALF
Jun 25 10:58 PM - MLS UPDATE
SAN JOSE 0
REAL SALT LAKE 0 HALFTIME
Jun 25 9:54 PM
Related News
- What’s next for RSL Soapbox? Jan 20
- The Salt: What’s RSL’s intention with this roster? Jan 18
- 2022 Player Profiles: Jasper Löffelsend Jan 18
- Real Salt Lake looks to build as they continue preseason Jan 16
- RSL sign Colombian winger Carlos Andrés Gómez for club record fee Jan 10
- Erik Holt, Tomas Gomez re-up with RSL Jan 10
- Delentz Pierre signs RSL homegrown deal from University of Portland Jan 6
- RSL announces homegrown Luis Rivera signing Jan 6
- How deep is RSL’s roster heading in to 2023? Jan 5
- 2022 Player Profiles: Zac MacMath Jan 4
- 2022 Player Profiles: Sergio Cordova Jan 3
- 2022 Player Profiles: Braian Ojeda Dec 26