FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Instead of a celebration after a surprising 3-1 triumph at Gillette Stadium on Friday night, Real Salt Lake were rewarded with a team talk.
This wasn't chalk talk or an X's and O's lecture from head coach Ellinger. Team owner David W. Checketts addressed the team for approximately 30 minutes after the team's victory.
Real Salt Lake head coach John Ellinger said Checketts wanted address the team before the game but ended up talking to the team after the game. Topics included an explanation of the team's efforts to have a soccer-specific stadium built in Utah and the future of the team in Salt Lake City.
"Any time the owner addresses you, it has to be important," Ellingter said. "You hear a variety of things being said in the media. When Dave stands up and addresses you, you know."
The team talk overshadowed a professional away performance, perhaps the best of the season to date.
"We didn't have a whole lot of possession," goalkeeper Scott Garlick said. "Attitude really separated us."
Their attitude let Real allow the home side most of the possession while looking continuously potent on the counterattack behind Jeff Cunningham and Andy Williams, back in the starting lineup despite playing 120 minutes in the team's Open Cup win over United Soccer Leagues Division 1 side Virginia Beach Mariners on Wednesday night.
The tactics lead to a dream start as Real Salt Lake scored the first three goals of the contest, through Chris Klein (16th minute), a weaving run from Cunningham (51) and Jason Kreis (54), and never looked back.
It was Cunningham's cross-field run that caught the eye as the American international beat the entirety of the New England defense while dribbling from the left flank to the right and eventually firing his strike past Matt Reis.
"What a great goal," Ellinger said. "He beat a lot of people."
Taylor Twellman grabbed a goal back for the Revolution in the 57th minute, but the Real Salt Lake defense held firm in the last half hour to ensure the three points and keep the Utah club in touch in the Western Conference playoff race.
"Anytime you win, it's good," Garlick said. "Honestly, we were one or two clean sheets away from being in the middle of the pack [in the Western Conference]."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
