RSL salvages draw with Rapids

SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake FW Jason Kreis scored his fifth and sixth preseason goals, in the 54th and 70th minutes, to lead an RSL rally from behind as the team settled for a 2-2 draw against Rocky Mountain rivals the Colorado Rapids during an exhibition game Saturday night at LaPorte High School Stadium in LaPorte, Texas. Real Salt Lake concludes its preseason tour with a game on Friday night at the University of Tulsa Track and Soccer Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., against the 2004 Western Conference Champion Kansas City Wizards.

Real Salt Lake's inaugural game is two weeks from tonight at 5:00 p.m. MT in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at Giants Stadium against the MetroStars. Four weeks from today, Real Salt Lake officially brings Major League Soccer to Utah with a home-opening first regular-season encounter versus Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on April 16, live at 1:00 p.m. MT.

"We showed good character and quality coming back from two goals down," said RSL Head Coach John Ellinger. "Rallying from behind isn't something I prefer, but it is good to know that the team is capable of accomplishing such a task."

Colorado began the first half with two early goals, as Rapids DF Eric Denton scored the first goal from a free kick 25 yards out just 4 minutes in. In the game's 8th minute, Rapids FW Chris Henderson broke down the left sideline, dishing off to FW Jeff Cunningham, who one-timed it past RSL 'keeper DJ Countess to give Colorado a 2-0 lead. Both teams battled for possession throughout the remainder of the first half with RSL almost striking on target several times.

At halftime Ellinger made one substitution, bringing on MF Leighton O'Brien for MF Chris Brown. Early in the second half, Major League Soccer's All-Time leading scorer, Jason Kreis, tallied preseason goal No. 5, finding a loose ball in the box and striking a shot sharply past the 'keeper on the right side in the 54th minute.

Just 14 minutes later, Real Salt Lake's combination play and extended possession set up the equalizer. DF Rusty Pierce played the ball up the right sideline to MF Dipsy Selolwane, who quickly fed a ball to the middle for O'Brien. O'Brien then played a ball out to the left for Trinidadian National Team MF Marlon Rojas, who served a ball from the wing into the box for Kreis, who finished off the chance with a successful, game-tying header in the 70th minute to complete the game's scoring.

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (March 19, 2005 - LaPorte HS, LaPorte, Texas)
1st 2nd Total Real Salt Lake 0 2 2
Colorado Rapids 2 0 2

Scoring Summary:
COL - Denton 3'
COL - Cunningham (Henderson, Beckerman) 8'
RSL - Kreis 54'
RSL - Kreis (Rojas) 70'

Today's lineups were as follows:

REAL SALT LAKE
GK - Countess; DF - Behncke, Dunseth, Akwari, Pierce; MF - Rojas (Kreamalmeyer 76), Kamler, Williams, Selolwane (Whitfield 76); FW - Kreis, Brown (O'Brien 46)

COLORADO RAPIDS
GK - Foss: DF - Denton, Lowery, Cullen, Gargan; MF - Henderson (Morales 46), Beckerman, Nkong, Cooke (Guillaume 72); FW - Peguero (Gonzalez 16), Cunningham(Harris 59)

2005 RSL PRESEASON RESULTS/SCHEDULE
(Dates/times subject to change)

MATHIS BOMB MARKS USMNT VICTORY: In today's U.S. Men's National Team action, Real Salt Lake MF/FW Clint Mathis struck a heavy, long-range blast from 40 yards out that beat Honduras goalkeeper Junior Morales and slammed off the crossbar. The shot rebounded into the middle of the box to the feet of FC Dallas FW Eddie Johnson, who netted his seventh career goal in his sixth career game in the 45th minute. Mathis and the U.S. now move on to face regional arch-rival Mexico in its second CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier on Easter Sunday, March 27, in Mexico City, a game which will be televised live on ESPN2 and Telemundo at 11:00 a.m. MT. Before returning to the team for its inaugural game against the MetroStars, Mathis could also suit up for the U.S. National Team against the Guatemalan National Team on March 30 in Birmingham, Ala. Real Salt Lake DF Eddie Pope continues to rehabilitate his pelvic inflammation and could return to training with either Team USA or RSL on Monday.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE: Real Salt Lake single-game tickets for its inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium went on sale today at the University of Utah Ticket Office, located at the Stadium's south end. Individual game prices are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, by logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX.

Real Salt Lake season ticket packages for the inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium are now on sale. The RSL 2005 season ticket package features 21 games, including all 16 MLS regular season games, four special bonus games and the highly-anticipated U.S.-Costa Rica World Cup Qualifier on June 4. Real Salt Lake's season ticket pricing consist of Youth (15 and younger) and Adult in four price levels. Prices for the 2005 season ticket packages are $200 adult ($180 youth) for the North Goal, $300 adult ($240 youth) for the Corner Flag, $400 ($320 youth) for East Sideline and $500 ($400 youth) for VIP seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the RSL Ticket Office at 515 South 700 East, #2R, SLC, UT 84102, by logging onto www.RealSaltLake.com or by contacting the Real Salt Lake Ticket Office at (866) 9-SOCCER.

ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter at the fans section of RealSaltLake.com.