a player who can play anywhere along the back four and also anywhere across the midfield -- to Real for two supplemental draft picks.
Kreis's lineup went as follows: Nick Rimando in goal; a back four of Ritchie Kotschau, Eddie Pope, Danny Torres, and Chris Lancos (left to right); Chris Wingert, Carey Talley, Atiba Harris, and Jean-Martial Kipre in the midfield (left to right); and a Kyle Brown-Robbie Findley partnership up top. Along with those missing already, Chris Brown's name was added to the list as he was unable to overcome the troublesome hamstring injury he picked up after scoring two goals against the L.A. Galaxy last month.
As the whistle blew the Kansas City attack lived up to its billing, as Davy Arnaud and Johnson continually found space between the RSL midfield and back four. With time, space, and their heads up facing goal, chances came early and often for K.C. If it hadn't been for the sure, outstretched hands of Nick Rimando (who would face 12 shots in the first half alone), Real could have and should have been down a few early. Up to the challenge with close range shots from Johnson, Arnaud, and the dangerous left peg on Argentine Carlos Marinelli, Rimando continually came up with the huge saves needed to keep RSL in the game.
All Kansas City needed was the ball on the cultured left foot of Jose Burciaga, Jr., who, with Johnson making his run away off the right shoulder of Danny Torres, laced a 60-yard ball on a rope. Not missing a step at full speed, Johnson took the ball on his chest, parrying it down in front of him. With no chance of getting to the ball first because of that deft touch, Rimando could only close down the angle. Johnson leaned to his left, but slotted right. The ball snuck past the RSL 'keeper and kissed the right post and, with luck, rolled back to Johnson, who seemed to be in the perfect spot, practically playing a one-two with the post. As Torres closed in, Johnson moved his goal total to double-digits by coolly slotting the rebound, giving K.C. the 1-0 lead, which would stand going into halftime. Johnson would also retain his share of the league's goal-scoring lead, his 10 goals equaling D.C.'s Luciano Emilio for the top spot.
Kreis's substitutions coming out of the locker room started with Jamie Watson sliding into the wide left spot vacated by Wingert, who would make way due to a knock. The other would be Andy Williams heading up top to pair with Findley, with Kyle Brown finding his way to the bench. These changes would also be tactical, as Kreis pushed both Watson and Kipre high on the wings, effectively knocking both Jack Jewsbury and Burciaga, Jr., out of their more attacking outside back mentality and forcing them to stay home and defend first. Williams, although entering as more of a forward, would drop underneath Findley, forcing both Jimmy Conrad and Nick Garcia to decide whether to worry about the speed of Findley and drop off and allow Kerry Zavagnin to worry about Williams, or take a chance and step up into the midfield, where Williams naturally drops to receive the ball at his feet.
Real started seeing more of the run of play in the second half, with more penetration on the flanks and better passing sequences as Williams found his rhythm. Kreis made his final substitution by inserting defensive midfielder Kenny Cutler halfway through for Findley, who looked spent. While it may have looked like a defensive substitution to the untrained eye, Atiba Harris headed up to the top spot and spent the rest of the night and caused tons of problems in the air and on the ground for both Conrad and Garcia.
The best chance of the night would come through a throw-in that found the feet of Watson, who had slid across the field to the right side just inside the 18-yard box. As the ball bounced at his feet, Watson flicked it underneath two defenders and onto the path of an onrushing Harris towards goal. Fighting through his defender's grasp, Atiba found himself with only All-Star goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to beat from a very tough angle. Hartman stood his ground and stayed as big as he could as Harris looked for his spot. With Hartman not knowing what to expect, Harris tried to beat him near post (his only option) and the ball skipped of the left bicep of the K.C. goalkeeper and out for a corner kick.
Despite a couple of last-second looks, and another late save by Rimando (who saw K.C. rattle off 24 shots on the night), Real could only feel frustration as once again the squad walked off the field without points. hile people were expecting a worse result against a team that offensively is always dangerous and Real missing potentially six starters, Kreis would have to seem happy with the work rate and competitiveness from a young team that had multiple players in unfamiliar positions.
With the MLS All-Star Game this Thursday against Scottish Champion Celtic FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Stadium in Denver, and the United States U-20 team eliminated with a 2-1 loss to Austria, Real will have a couple of days to sort things out before taking on two great opponents in the form of sixth-place finisher in the Premier League, Everton FC -- which features U.S. starting goalkeeper Timmy Howard -- and current Copa Libertadores champion Boca Juniors, the world's most decorated club in Argentina.
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.
