Real Salt Lake hasn't had much to smile about in their inaugural season. But following the expansion side's comeback 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, it was clear that the flight back to the Wasatch Front will be a bit more enjoyable than many of their other road trips this year.
"Everybody is smiling tonight because we came back," said midfielder Brian Kamler. "It's been a long time since we've been able to do that."
Indeed. The result marked Real's first road point since their 0-0 draw with the MetroStars on opening day, and was also their first point on grass. RSL are still in search of their first-ever road win, but given that John Ellinger's side trailed by two goals at halftime, and that the team has now emerged from a 10-game losing streak, the Real head coach was looking at nothing but positives.
"[The tie] gives us a great feeling," said Ellinger. "I'm proud of the effort and the fact that we came back from two [goals down]. The target coming in was to get our first road win, but we come out with our first point in a while, so we'll take it that way."
Rookies Kevin Novak and Jamie Watson inspired Real's second half revival. In the 64th minute, Novak's seeing-eye cross somehow found the back of the net, and Watson showed remarkable patience in setting up Andy Williams equalizer nine minutes later. Racing down the left wing, Watson's cut-back move allowed the Jamaican to time his run to perfection and volley home at the far post.
Real didn't stop there, and it was the expansion side who came closest to snatching a late winner.
"Once we got the spark of getting the goal by Kevin [Novak], the jets just turned on," said Ellinger. "The next 25 minutes, it was as good as we have played all year."
According to Kamler, a larger commitment to getting players into the attack was the difference in the team's second half performance.
"I think in the second half we were just a lot more dangerous," said Kamler. "Instead of having one guy in the box we had two or three guys in there."
As satisfying as the result was for RSL, it was doubly so for Novak. Not only did the midfielder enjoy an impressive first start, but his goal capped a remarkable comeback journey of his own.
The Loyola Marymount product tore his lateral collateral ligament in his knee late in his senior season and faced a year of rehab and playing without a club. On the recommendation of his college coach, Paul Krumpe, Novak was invited to training camp as an undrafted rookie, and did enough to impress Ellinger that he was given a developmental contract.
Novak bided his time throughout the season, and has now made the most of his two late season appearances.
"Throughout my career, I've always had to be patient," said Nowak. "I knew what it was going to be like coming in, because I was almost like a walk-on type of player. I just decided I was going to work hard and hopefully my chance would come. It's towards the end of the season, but I'm happy all the same."
The same could be said for the rest of his teammates as well.
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
