News: Real Salt Lake to face Deportivo Saprissa on July 23

Oviedo is playing left back, but he's pushing up a lot. It looks like Russell's playing a center mid (not really attacking or defensive - a lot of play in the middle of the pitch) and Robinson is right back/wing.

 

While I don't think it's as entertaining as the Santos match was - it's actually been pretty enjoyable from an RSL supporters standpoint as we've created a number of chances and have had pretty good combination play.

By the way, Findley hit a rocket off of the post a couple of minutes ago... sorry I forgot to mention that (I was caught up in the moment).

Half time

 

HT Real Salt Lake 0-0 Deportivo Saprissa

A decent game, crowd sounds to be in force, both teams had a few chances but that's about it.

RSL are definetly not showing why they are #1 in the west despite playing at home.

Saprissa needs to step it up a notch. We need to have the ability to get results away from home in a more convincing fashion.

 

To be fair, RSL was playing without their number one play maker in Morales. Let's see if things change in the second half (if he plays, of course).

 

Subs at half:
Borchers in for Olave
Wingert for Joy
Espindola for Findley
Nunez for Deuchar
Morales for Nimo

and... I think that's it.

 

Wait... just noticed, Yura for Dema as well. Three strikers in...

 

No Saprissa subs at half. This is a much stronger group for RSL. Technically Yura entered for Deuchar & Espindola entered for Kovalenko, and Nunez for Findley.

 

I really like Gomez for Saprissa. He's a bigger forward but has amazing control and deceptive speed. RSL on the break, Nunez against two defenders - tries to cross into Morales but it's cleared away.

 

Mantilla almost cost us a goal. Rather than going for the ball to clear - he body tackled the striker hoping Reynish would come out to collect, but he didn't. Nunez almost scored a scorcher off of a one-touch shot from a corner.

 

Yura with a great cross across the box - Espindola chested down and took a shot (weaker than he would probably have liked) that was easily cleared off the line by Saprissa. It's so nice to see Espindola back on the pitch. He looks lively.

 

GOL!!!!!!!

ARMANDO ALONSO!!!

Real Salt Lake 0-1 Deportivo Saprissa

 

GOAL - Saprissa. Confusion in the box, Gomez puts it away over a diving Reynish. Sloppy goal, but they'll take it. Assist by Centeno on the play

Cordero comes in for Alpizar.

 

BOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Sounds like RSL is controlling this game. Bummer that they let Saprissa take the lead.

 

They looked in control in the first half - but so far in this half it's been pretty even. The goal for Sparissa was crap and appeared offsides, but I wouldn't say that they didn't deserve some sort of goal for their effort in the first half.

Could it be that we really are so much weaker when Olave isn't in the match? Even with Borchers we look a little confused.

 

GOAL - Sparissa. 2-0 Alonso on the break, drives around a diving Reynish. Stops. Waits. And then he cooly buries it past Borchers who was standing in goal.

 

GOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!

ARMANDO ALONSO AGAIN!!!

Real Salt Lake 0-2 Deportivo Saprissa

As I have said earlier, I am letting the players do the talking.

This is what Saprissa should be like. In preseason and playing away, we are beating one of the top teams in season form. Looks like the preseason excuse was just an excuse after all.

I can't imagine what they will look like in-season.

 

Yikes. We suck.

 

Another close call for Saprissa. They're rocketing in shot after shot right now.

62' substitutes:
Sparissa - Gomez out - Alfaro in
RSL - Acosta in for Beckerman

 

Most of us don't care what they will look like in season.

 

Sprissa sub - Balladarez in for Nunez

 

Saprissa with another break after Cutler appeared to hand the ball on to them. However, this time they don't do anything with it. We look reckless in the back without Olave.

 

Yura's been pretty good tonight. He's fighting for loose balls, running hard at the defense, and yet - can't seem to connect.

Final RSL substitution: Reiman for Espindola. WTF?

 

Only Rimando remains on the bench.

 

I do.

I always felt that Saprissa needed to change that mentality of just doing enough or close to enough away from home and winning 95% of our games at home.

These giras are what we need. We need to be beating in-season teams away from home convincingly like we are now and not just depend in our stadium to get results. Sort of like Boca Juniors who seem to win just about every away game the play.

 

Sparissa with two more subs

Chacon for Oviedo & Drummond for Alonso. Both teams clearing the benches with 20 minutes to go.