RSL earn draws vs. Newell's Old Boys

SALT LAKE CITY --
Real Salt Lake started off its exhibition slate in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday afternoon with a pair of draws in split squad contests against Primera División Argentina side Newell's Old Boys. The day began with RSL's reserve squad dueling to a 0-0 draw against their counterparts from Newell's in a 60-minute scrimmage, followed by a 70-minute match between the squads' first teams that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The opener between the reserve sides was largely a stalemate, Real Salt Lake showing some early attacking legs but rarely turning those opportunities into shots. The second half featured the RSL debut of Colombian DF Jamison Olave, who replaced an injured Brennan Tennelle on the backline at the halftime break.

"There were some good things and not so good things in the first game, but we've spent most of our time working on how we want to defend and not a lot of time on how we want to attack, so for where we are in our preseason those results are somewhat expected," said RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis. "We were lacking some ideas the ability to play simply and work the ball around. But to end the game 0-0 here in Argentina, seeing how we played against our first quality opponent, I think that's a good result."

The first-team match saw more fluid soccer, but it took until the second half for the teams to move the scoreboard. Newell's would get the game's first goal in the 58th minute from the penalty spot, set up by a questionable call in the penalty area against GK Nick Rimando. The RSL netminder charged off his line to thwart a 1-v-1 against an NOB attacker and dove to the right to grab the ball off the player's foot, but some embellishment helped the home side earn a spot kick that was converted to give Newell's the 1-0 lead with a dozen minutes to play.

But the RSL attack would hit paydirt just one minute from time, when MF Javier Morales celebrated his homecoming with a 16-yard effort off a well-constructed build-up. The scoring exchange was created when FW Kenny Deuchar gathered a ball with his back to goal in the left side of the penalty area before dishing centrally for MF Andy Williams. The Jamaican playmaker sent a square ball into the right side of the area for a charging Morales, and the Argentine lashed his first-touch strike into the left side of the goal to even up the proceedings in the game's final moments.

"There were lots of positives to take from the second game. We had some better ideas of how we wanted to attack, allowing us to combine very well and create a lot of good chances," continued Kreis. "With the penalty call going against us, we walked away knowing that we deserved to win 1-0. We'll look to build on what we've implemented so far during training the rest of the week, putting some real focus on how we want to attack and where we want players at certain times."

RSL Training Camp Notes

Today's RSL debut for Olave was an unexpected one as, after traveling from Colombia earlier in the day to join up with his new squad in Rosario, the central defender was expected to get the day off. But after the rookie Tennelle left the early game due to an injury, Olave was called into service and played a commendable 30 minutes on the RSL reserves backline in the second half of their scoreless draw.

A strike by hotel workers in Rosario nearly left the Real Salt Lake squad rearranging their meals plans on Wednesday. Thankfully, the team was warned of the developing situation in advance and was able to arrange alternate breakfast and lunch plans at a local restaurant in advance of today's matches.

Real Salt Lake's effort today earned the team a day off on Thursday. The squad will resume with a pair of training sessions on Friday and get back to its exhibition slate on Sunday against local side Jockey Club Rosario.

Real Salt Lake 1 : 1 Newell's Old Boys

RSL Spring Exhibition #8 (70 minutes)

Monday, March 5, 2008

Rosario, Argentina

Scoring Summary

NOB - goal (penalty kick) 58'

RSL - Javier Morales (Andy Williams, Kenny Deuchar) 69

Discipline Summary

RSL - Nat Borchers (caution) 27

RSL - Dema Kovalenko (caution) 35

RSL - Ian Joy (caution) 41

Real Salt Lake Line-up: GK-Nick Rimando; DF-Ian Joy (Tony Beltran 47), DF-Nat Borchers, DF-Matías Mantilla, DF-Chris Wingert; MF-Andy Williams, MF-Kenny Cutler, MF-Javier Morales, MF-Dema Kovalenko; FW-Fabian Espíndola, FW-Kenny Deuchar

Real Salt Lake (Reserves) 0 : 0 Newell's Old Boys (Reserves)

RSL Spring Exhibition #7 (60 minutes)

Monday, March 5, 2008

Rosario, Argentina

Scoring Summary

None

Discipline Summary

None

Real Salt Lake Line-up: GK-Kyle Reynish; DF-Tony Beltran, DF-Dustin Kirby, DF-David Horst, DF-Brennan Tennelle (Jamison Olave 31); MF-Kevin Reiman, MF-Alex Nimo, MF-Carey Talley, MF-Matias Cordoba; FW-Tino Nuñez, FW-Indra Sahdan Daud

2008 Real Salt Lake Preseason Exhibition Results (4-1-3)

Date
Opponent
Result
Venue

2/08 Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 7-0 W Buena H.S. - Ventura, CA

2/09 Santa Barbara City College 4-1 W Oxnard College - Oxnard, CA

2/16 Florida International Univ. 3-1 W Holiday Inn Sports Complex - Sunrise, FL

2/19 Lynn University 1-2 L Central Broward Regional Park - Lauderhill, FL

2/22 Colorado Rapids 2-2 T Central Broward Regional Park - Lauderhill, FL

2/23 Florida Atlantic Univ. 2-1 W Holiday Inn Sports Complex - Sunrise, FL

3/05 Newell's Old Boys (ARG) (Reserves) 0-0 T Rosario, Argentina

3/05 Newell's Old Boys (ARG) (1st team) 1-1 T Rosario, Argentina

2008 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule

Feb. 29-March 13: Preseason Trip #3 to Rosario, Argentina