On Wednesday night at RFK Stadium, against the holders of the best record in Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake were the better side for long stretches of a strange match that featured a missed penalty kick by each team. But once again, Real found themselves on the short end of the scoreline as United got a late goal for a 2-1 victory.
"They are going to be emotionally down after that. The group worked extremely hard and the group deserved a little more than they got to be honest," said Kreis. "All of us realize that this was extremely important; we needed three points to really feel like we've got a shot going into these last seven games."
Despite having only 17 points and winning just four games, Kreis still feels his team has a remote chance of making the playoffs. The loss was yet another example that Real cannot squander opportunities or good performances if they plan on catching Chicago, which currently holds the last playoff spot with 28 points.
"I think we played a lot of nice balls inside their box tonight but we didn't have strikers in the right spots to score those goals. It's a point we've been hammering away at and we will continue to hammer away at," said Kreis. "We've got to get our strikers to those balls. They can't be hanging out behind defenders and expect to score goals."
Kreis has completely made over the RSL team from the group that started the year, and the club's recent outings have shown. Even if a postseason place doesn't come to fruition, the club still feels good about the direction it is heading in.
"We've got the right players now," said goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "In the beginning of the season I don't think we were clicking and now we are. The results aren't there but we're coming back, we're playing with teams, we're scoring goals away and that's a positive.
Luciano Emilio had given United the lead in the 16th minute against the run of play, but a long-distance shot from Kyle Beckerman -- his first since coming to RSL from the Colorado Rapids a couple of months ago -- provided a 32nd-minute equalizer.
"We have a lot of new personnel and I think we have a new attitude and I think we are a good team," said Alecko Eskandarian, another of those newcomers during the season, after being acquired from Toronto FC. "It's just unfortunate we haven't gotten the results to show for it. You saw tonight that we were able to play with the best team in the league and even outplay them at times. I was just disappointed I wasn't able to bury that PK to get us a result."
Eskandarian's penalty kick would have tied the game in the 76th minute but was saved by Troy Perkins, his former roommate during his time with D.C. United, where he began his professional career. Eskandarian had multiple other quality shots including a blast from just outside the penalty area in the 11th minute that Perkins knocked away with a great diving save.
"I got my shots on target and Troy made some good saves," said Eskandarian. "He did his job and deflected them wide. All I can do is try to put my shots on target and make the goalie make the save."
Real clearly had the better possession and outshot United in the first half. However, United inserted Fred, their normal first-choice left-sided midfielder, to patrol the right side to start the second half. Pushing three players forward, the tide turned and United started dominating possession, keeping RSL without a shot on goal until the penalty kick.
The clinching goal came in the 73rd minute when Christian Gomez was left unmarked on the back post to finish a soft chip from the right touchline by Fred. His header slipped just inside the left post and the outstretched hands of Rimando.
"We made some mistakes," said a disappointed but upbeat Rimando. "We don't know how to mark up in the box and they put us away. Good teams know how to do that."
Regardless, Real attacked relentlessly but could not find the final combination to get the equalizer.
"I don't think there is one thing in particular; I think the group is just playing pretty good soccer," said Kreis, who is a deceptive 4-10-3 since taking over. "We are creating enough chances now that I don't think they have the pressure or feel that they have the pressure that they have to score every chance that they get. They have enough confidence to realize they are going to create multiple chances. They don't put as much pressure on every individual chance so I think they are able to relax a little bit more in front of the goal."
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
