If you would have been asked at the beginning of the season "would you take a draw and a point on the road against the Chicago Fire," what would have been your answer? Most likely, if you were honest, it would have been an overwhelming yes.
For the third game in seven days, recently-installed RSL head coach Jason Kreis led his men into Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire. Stepping onto another great wide grass field (also the third in seven days, thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods Park and Pizza Hut Park), Real Salt Lake were already down a man before the referee blew the opening whistle as central defender Danny Torres failed a late fitness test due to a problematic hamstring.
If there was ever a time to be facing the Fire in Chicago, it would have to be Sunday afternoon, with Telefutura presenting the match as part of the new national Univision contract. With four goals and three assists to his name, Fire forward Chris Rolfe still hadn't recovered from a severe left ankle sprain suffered in matchday six, while other Chicago stalwarts Calen Carr, Dasan Robinson, Henry Gutierrez and Jim Curtin would also be absent from the starting 11 for multiple reasons.
Facing their biggest slide in the history of the franchise, Chicago had not won in the month of May, resulting in a four consecutive losses. With offensive forces Justin Mapp and Chad Barrett both healthy and the insertion of the newly-signed Brazilian Oliviera, Chicago was looking for a much-needed result at home.
RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando was manning the nets once again for Real, with a Forko-Pope-Stewart-Kipre backline. The midfield again had the same faces as Wednesday's Open Cup match with Adu-Lancos-Ballouchy-Klein responsible for creativity and work rate. Eskandarian would make his debut up top along with Harris, each hoping to cause problems for the back three of Chicago.
Both teams pounced off the bat, with Chicago seeming to have the most dangerous opportunities. With soft giveaways hurting RSL throughout the first half, Barrett somehow couldn't find the back of the net with four chances in the opening 45 minutes. With Mapp once again finding space behind Kipre for the third time in the first 30 minutes, the referee ruled no penalty as the Ivorian looked to take the Mississippi native down from behind. Into halftime, the score was nil-nil.
A battle royale was taking place in Chicago's defensive third, with RSL's Atiba Harris and the Fire's C.J. Brown - two of the league's players who most love physical play - mixing it up all afternoon long. RSL found their game and their chances through quick combination play in the midfield, especially after turnovers. Multiple shots found their way on frame, with young Fire 'keeper Matt Perkins up to the challenge, with seven saves and a clean sheet credited to his name by day's end.
The most dangerous time for Chicago came in second-half stoppage time - where RSL have come up short on several occasions this season - with three great Fire scoring chances snuffed by Real Salt Lake players. Defender Eddie Pope, substitute Chris Brown and most importantly, "Man of the Match" Nick Rimando (who took a point blank shot from Barrett about 6 yards out off his chest) had clearances that would have and should have won the game for the Fire, who instead had to settle for a 0-0 draw to extend their five-game winless streak.
Another move made Friday was the addition of veteran MLS 'keeper Jeff Cassar to the Real Salt Lake coaching staff. A solid performer in the league since its 1996 inception (he also had a stint with Bolton Wanderers of the Premier League), Cassar will bring plenty of knowledge and experience, as well as great personality to the team.
And with that addition also comes a subtraction. Peter Mellor, three-year assistant and goalkeeper coach for Real Salt Lake, now departs the organization. A man of many laughs, Peter had a distinguished career at the highest level in England that spanned 16 years and saw him play in an FA Cup Final. After retiring and moving up the ranks within U.S. Soccer, Peter wrote the coaching manual for the "A" license. In addition to being an assistant with multiple teams that participated in the World Championships (U-17's and U-20's), the highlight (for me at least) was the 2000 Olympic Team that placed fourth in Sydney, with head coach Clive Charles and John Ellinger and Peter as assistants.
Mellor, the big man, was, is and will always be a class act.
Brian Dunseth, the former Captain of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team, who scored the game-winning goal in Real Salt Lake's first-ever win in its home opener in 2005 vs. rival Colorado, can be heard each week on KALL 700 AM the Zone, providing analysis during RSL game broadcasts and co-hosting the pre- and post-game shows for RSL home games. A nine-year veteran of MLS play, Dunseth is now a licensed realtor for The Bringhurst Group in Salt Lake City, and looks forward to your feedback at brian@slchouses.com.
