Real Salt Lake vs. D.C. United: Referee Scores Both Goals in a 1-1 Draw

Normally, I am not one to complain about a referee's decision. I am not one to get upset, yell, scream and swear from the sidelines, or blame the referee for the outcome of a game. As a coach, I teach my young players to respect the call and play on, no matter how bad it is.Every once in a while, however, a game comes along where all of my coaching philosophy goes out the window, and the referee gets the blame.On Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah, Major League Soccer referee Terry Vaughn did what no referee should do and greatly influenced the outcome of a match between D.C. United and Real Salt Lake.Thanks to two horrible calls that penalty kicks were awarded on, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.Following nearly a half where the two teams battled for possession and both had a few scoring chances, Vaughn awarded the first penalty kick to Real Salt Lake.In the 38th minute, Real Salt Lake was on the attack and was moving into the box from the side near the endline. As midfielder Kyle Beckerman faked a cross to move around the defender, United player Clyde Simms went for ...

Real Salt Lake Earns a Much Needed Point on the Road in Philadelphia

Following a mid-week loss in the final minutes of the match against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night, Real Salt Lake continued it's Major League Soccer road trip Saturday against the Philadelphia Union.In what was supposed to be the second meeting of these two teams this season, each team dominated a half and played to a 1-1 draw.The two teams were scheduled to meet in an early season match in April in Utah, until both teams willingly rescheduled the match so that Real Salt Lake could focus on the CONCACAF final match they would host a few nights later.In today's match, the Philadelphia Union came out strong and had multiple scoring chances early in the match. Taking a page out of Real Salt Lake's playbook, they dominated first half possession and were not afraid to attack the heart of the best defense in the league.After several good chances, and building up a lot of excitement, Keon Daniel scored his first goal of the season for the Union in the 24th minute. His shot came off a ball served in from the corner that he ran onto, split a couple of defenders and nodded down for the score.As the half went ...

Columbus Crew Scores Two Late Goals to Beat Real Salt Lake

The Columbus Crew hosted Real Salt Lake in a mid-week match Wednesday evening in the first meeting between these two teams in Major League Soccer play.Despite scoring very early, Real Salt Lake's normally stellar defense was unable to hold of the Crew attack late, and left with a 2-1 loss on the road.While this was the first regular season meeting between the two clubs, they met twice before the season started in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. After a draw in Columbus, Real Salt Lake won 4-1 at home to advance in the tournament.In tonight's match, Real Salt Lake seemed to pick up right where they left off by scoring in the seventh minute on a corner kick.The ball was played in well and found the foot of central defender Jamison Olave who took one poke at the ball and placed a high bouncing shot between the crossbar and the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper.It was his first goal of the season. Real Salt Lake held the lead going into halftime and until the 76th minute when Crew forward Andres Mendoza converted a penalty kick to tie the game.Although it tied the score, the kick came with a bit of controversy.Columbus ...

Real Salt Lake’s Jean Alexandre Named Major League Soccer Player of the Week

According to a report found on the team website, newly converted forward Jean Alexandre has been named the Major League Soccer player of the week for Week 12 of the Major League Soccer season. In only his second start this season, and filling in for a group of forwards that are either injured or playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament with their national teams, usual mid-fielder Jean Alexandre had responsibility in both goals scored in a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.In just his second match playing as a forward for Real Salt Lake, Alexandre scored his first career goal and notched his first career assist.In the 32nd minute, Alexandre received a pass on a ball through the Whitecap defense from Real Salt Lake team captain Kyle Beckerman. After a couple of touches to set up a shot, he popped the ball over the goalkeeper to the far post.Late in the second half, he followed up his goal with his first career assist when he played a ball ahead to fellow forward Fabian Espindola, who struck home a one-on-one goal against the Whitecap goalkeeper.This is the first player of the week honor for Jean Alexandre, and the second for a ...

Real Salt Lake Finds Form Against the Vancouver Whitecaps

For a Real Salt Lake team that has been struggling for several weeks, a home match against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps could not have come at a better time.Playing without three players—with their international teams—and missing Jamison Olave due to red card suspension, a shorthanded Real Salt Lake dominated the match with both possession and scoring opportunities from start to finish.The result was a 2-0 victory and three full points in the standings for Real Salt Lake.For the first time in several games, Real Salt Lake was able to score an early goal and take a lead into halftime.After a long buildup and a few good scoring chances that narrowly missed the goal, Jean Alexandre, getting his second straight start at the forward position, was able to punch one into the back of the net.In the 32nd minute, Alexandre received a great through ball from Kyle Beckerman at the top of the box, took a couple of touches and popped the ball over the goalkeeper to the far post.It was the first goal scored by Alexandre in his Major League Soccer career.The second half started much like the first ended, with Real Salt Lake dominating possession, and the Whitecaps being ...

Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake: Sounders Bring Down the Fortress in Win

For the first time since the summer of 2009, Real Salt Lake has lost a Major League Soccer match at home.Rio Tinto Stadium, known as "The Fortress" has been very good to Real Salt Lake, who owned a 29-match unbeaten streak until Lamar Neagle and the Sounders came to town.Playing in the rain for the second straight week, the result was a 2-1 victory for the road team.Although it was Neagle's goal in the 84th minute that proved to be the game-winner, the turning point of the match occurred much earlier.After the two teams played an even first half, the pace of play began to pick up after halftime. In the 58th minute, Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave was issued a straight red card for dragging down Seattle forward Mike Fucito on a scoring opportunity.Forced to shift the match to a defensive strategy, Real Salt Lake gave up the first goal in the 72nd minute when Patrick Iannni got on the end of a ball served in from the corner that bounced off several Sounders before finding the back of the net.A few minutes later Seattle added an insurance goal that was needed to preserve the win. Lamar Neagle ...

CONCACAF Gold Cup: What Do National Team Call-Ups Mean for Real Salt Lake?

Anytime an athlete can play for his or her national team, it is a very prestigious honor.Over the next month, the United States will host the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament that will feature the best soccer players from 12 countries in the North and Central America region.With players being selected from current rosters of their club teams from all over the world, the upcoming tournament will alter the lineups of several teams in Major League Soccer.Many teams will make adjustments to accommodate play without those who are away to help their country.Real Salt Lake is no different from other MLS clubs but perhaps will see the effects of call-ups more than any other team.For a team that has not yet gotten back on track following a very difficult loss in the CONCACAF Champions League final, and is dealing with the significant loss of their star player to injury, the timing of this tournament could not be worse.Four Real Salt Lake players have been selected to the teams of four different countries. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (USA), midfielder Will Johnson (Canada) and forwards Arturo Alvarez (El Salvador) and Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) could all miss time while playing for their national teams.Will ...

Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas: No Goals Allowed in the Battle of the Goalkeepers

In a Sunday evening match between two of the best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake traveled to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas to take on FC Dallas.Trying to change their fortunes in that stadium, Real Salt Lake came out in their "Victory Gold" uniforms that they have only used three other times in club history. Each time previously they have played to a result.Real Salt Lake has never beaten or played to a draw with FC Dallas on the road in team history, and has a 0-9-0 record.Tonight was different, however, as Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 draw for the second week in a row.Both teams were without their star play-maker they planned to have at the beginning of the season, and it showed as neither offense could really get going.FC Dallas mid-fielder/forward David Ferreira, and Real Salt Lake mid-fielder Javier Morales are both out with significant injuries.In the first 45 minutes, Dallas held the edge in shots and attacking chances, but Real Salt Lake held the advantage in time of possession.Each team did have a good chance to score early, but each of the two best goalkeepers in major league soccer had spectacular ...

Real Salt Lake Mid-Week Roundup, Major League Soccer Week 9-10

For the second time this season Real Salt Lake played a match following a stunning loss.The first was when they traveled to Portland following the the heartbreaking mid-week defeat in the CONCACAF final to Monterrey.They lost to Portland 1-0.After just a few weeks, RSL once again is fighting to regain it's confidence and composure after suffering the loss of it's best player and play-maker Javier Morales to a needless and reckless tackle from Chivas USA player Marcos Mondaini.A Look BackReal Salt Lake went into week nine of the Major League Soccer Season feeling shocked, confused and a little bit lost.After losing Javier Morales for what could be the rest of the season, there were a lot of question marks in the mid-field.Fortunately they would be hosting the Houston Dynamo at Rio Tinto Stadium, a place where they had a 28 match regular season unbeaten streak.Although Real Salt Lake was favored in the match, the emotions of the situation took over and they came out playing a bit flat and did not show the dominance that many expected early in the season.Both teams had good scoring opportunities late, but the result was a scoreless draw.Collen Warner, who has played well this ...

Major League Soccer Drops the Ball with 4-Game Suspension for Marcos Mondaini

The new sign leading out of the locker room in every Major League Soccer stadium should read"CAUTION: PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK. MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR INJURY."In the wake of the third severe injury suffered by an elite player, Major League Soccer showed that they are not as concerned as they should be with the safety of their players by suspending Chivas USA forward Marcos Mondaini only four games for violent, reckless and completely unnecessary play.The suspension is actually only for three games with one additional game for the red card. He will also pay a fine of $1,500.The tackle in question occurred in the first half of a recent match between Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake.After being beaten in the run of play with a good piece of skill by Javier Morales, Mondaini chose to take out the frustration of the match on Morales' ankle.As Morales set to shoot the ball from just outside the box, Mondaini slid in and took out his plant leg. He was several yards away from touching any part of the ball.This incident is the third this season of players being severely hurt and out for ...