REAL SALT LAKE 0, KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 0
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On wave after wave of opportunities for RSL tonight:
"There are a lot of positive things to take out of that game. There was a lot of good soccer on our part; I really thought we were the aggressors the entire night. The only thing you can shake your head about or scratch your head about is the final touch, because if that was there I think we would've had quite a few goals tonight."
On what Salt Lake changed tactically after the first 20 minutes:
"It took us a little too long for my liking to get into that game, but I don't necessarily think it was a tactical adjustment that was made. It was just that the guys didn't find a good rhythm until 20 or 25 minutes in, and then it was all us. I've stressed time and time again, we've been on top of teams and if we don't take our goals, then we make it difficult for ourselves. From the 25th to 45th minute we were all over them and all we need is a goal and we don't get the goal. I know that the guys are a little frustrated, but it's hard to maintain that kind of tempo for the entire match. But I really feel that when we've got a team back against the wall a little bit, we've got to figure out a way to put them down."
On RSL defender Chris Wingert's performance:
"[Chris] is certainly one of the more consistent players on our team right now. Game in and game out we know what we're going to get with Chris. He's been defending one-on-one very well and I think that's an area of his game he's improved on drastically this year for us, and he's getting forward at the right times, giving some quality service. So we're very happy with Chris and where he's at right now."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER KYLE BECKERMAN:
On what RSL did right:
"We did everything right, except for put the ball away."
On the team's effort:
"The effort and the way we played were good, and if we continue like that we will be all right. We just need to go get some wins. You know, we're going to get one of these on the road, so hopefully it's next week. Then we can come back [at home] and hopefully that makes up for this week."
On the flow of the game:
"The first 20 minutes [the Wizards] were pretty fresh and both teams are not giving anything away, but then it calmed down and we got some things together. We were just a bit unlucky not to finish one of our chances."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER DEMA KOVALENKO
On RSL's performance:
"We played a good game. The effort was there, everybody worked hard. [RSL forward] Robbie [Findley] came in and did a good job. At the end of the day it's frustrating because we were so much better."
On coming off a disappointing result at home:
"Every game is difficult; you can see the division, how tight it is. Every week is important, and we especially need to win on the road. We just have to forget about it, go back to work on Monday and get better."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On the match:
"I thought our team competed very well. They were a little tired, having played a lot of minutes on Wednesday in a game we put a lot into. I thought Kevin Hartman had a great game in goal. I thought we played well for the first 30 minutes; the last 15 [minutes of the first half] we really didn't have the energy to compete with them, and the second half was pretty much even."
On what changed between the first and second half:
"It is just fatigue. We came out and pressed them. We were hoping to get a goal early, which was our game plan. When you exert that kind of energy on the road, and you don't decide to sit back and try to press them, you expend energy. The hope is you get a goal, and then you can drop back and look to counter, but we weren't able to score a goal and they started to get in the game, as they should when they are playing at home. There are going to be stretches when you have to endure pressure. I was pleased with the group effort and the will of the guys to work for each other and not give up any goals."
On some of the Wizards play coming off injuries:
"As we move forward I think it is a real positive that Davy Arnaud gets some more minutes. We are trying to work him back into playing fitness through playing games so we can get him up to speed. As we continue to progress, we will continue to get better. Sasha Victorine and Carlos [Marinelli] have struggled a lot with groin injuries; getting them back to health is good, but we need to get them some good training before they can really be able to contribute for more than 45 minutes or so."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER DAVY ARNAUD
On the game:
"We battled hard for each other tonight. I don't think it is going to be the prettiest game anytime you play on FieldTurf, it is just the way it is. [Real Salt Lake] has been good at home all year. The positive thing is we came out and battled and scrapped, and we shut them out, which is good, and we got a point on the road, which isn't bad."
On the change of momentum in the last 15 minutes of the first half:
"We started out pretty well. I thought we were moving the ball well and we created a couple of chances. For whatever reason, we kind of got out of rhythm in the last part of the first half. Credit to [Salt Lake], they did well. For whatever reason after that first 30 [minutes] we just couldn't find the rhythm we had to start with."
On getting a point on the road:
"What is really important is that we really worked hard together, and that is something we really tried to establish -- to be a hard team to play against. If we have that mentality, especially now that we are going back home after we have been on the road for six games, it is really going to benefit us. A point on the road is a point on the road, especially against these guys who have been really good at home."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JIMMY CONRAD
On the play of Real Salt Lake:
"I think Salt Lake does a pretty good job of pressuring the ball; if you can get past that first line of pressure and kind of get running at their backs, I think that is where you can be dangerous. I think we did that a few times tonight, but it didn't turn into anything, and that was disappointing on our end. I thought we did a better job in the second half of limiting their chances. We just have to make more of our opportunities."
On the Rice-Eccles field:
"What is funny about turf is that every turf field plays a little different. You hit long balls, sometimes they chuck straight up and sometimes they skip out of bounds. You just got to be ready for the unexpected out here. That is what turf does though -- the ball doesn't slow down on turf when it is on the ground. We have turf to practice on at home, but the turf here is still a different turf than we practice on at home. Both teams are playing on it though."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS GOALKEEPER KEVIN HARTMAN
On the result:
"I thought our guys battled well tonight. We were able to get a shutout, so hopefully that helps our confidence defensively a little bit. We have to continue to try to be more effective offensively, and get more chances. We were able to keep our shape in the second half, and they were not necessarily able to get as many chances as they did in the first half. Possession was good for maybe the first 25 minutes of the game. The second half when Carlos Marinelli and Sasha Victorine were on the field helped. I think they are two guys who value possession a little more."
On grabbing the away point:
"We always want more points, but we have to keep things in perspective. It was a six-game road swing. If we had won tonight we would have got seven points from six road games, which is not the worst thing in the world. Fortunately we were able to come out with five points."
On his save on RSL striker Kenny Deuchar:
"We knew Deuchar was their most dangerous attacking player in terms of flighted balls into the box. It is frustrating that on the first corner kick he gets an opportunity from 10 yards out. I might have laid into some guys at that point. It was a team effort to keep it out of the goal though."
