Real Salt Lake wanted to give Eddie Pope a game worth remembering in his last match at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
It did not happen. Fortunately, Pope has one more match to play in Major League Soccer, with RSL on the road in Colorado, and the USA's best-ever defender can look forward to a better sendoff than Monday's 1-0 loss to Houston Dynamo.
Real started attacking from the opening whistle, as Yura Movsisyan pulled the trigger before 10 seconds had passed. RSL kept it up for the next few minutes, and was able to spring Movsisyan up the left sideline; Movsisyan shrugged off the defender and crossed the ball, but Houston smothered the ball before Chris Brown could knock it home.
Houston made itself known in the opening moments as well, trying to pressure the ball up top as much as possible. But still, Real found more success on offense as the home team got a free kick outside the left corner of the penalty area. Andy Williams struck it, and Alecko Eskandarian tried to settle it, but could not as the Dynamo defense held firm despite the dangerous position.
Dynamo made Real's defense a little nervous as well. In the 27th minute, Brian Mullan pushed up hard and danced through some defenders before crossing the ball into the goal area looking for Joseph Ngwenya, but RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando dove on the ball to end the play.
As the first half wore on, both teams struggled to find a flow of possession. Instead, they found ways to get yellow cards. Williams and Movsisyan each were shown a yellow card for some subtle shoves and knocks, and for Houston, Ryan Cochrane got a card for a some harsh words. But, no goals were forthcoming as the half ended goalless.
Real brought on some fresh legs after halftime. Jamie Watson entered the game in exchange for Brown, and Kyle Beckerman came in for Williams. But it was Houston that had the better looks in the early going, as Richard Mulrooney forced Rimando to be the hero and Ngwenya missed a beautiful 18-yard effort.
But just seconds after Ngwenya's shot, Movsisyan took a shot that bounced off the far right post, making Houston just as nervous on a counterattack. In any case, both teams began to show the gumption they were missing in the first half.
Rimando, who was named RSL's Most Valuable Player for the season before the game, made a highlight-reel save in the 65th minute off a Stuart Holden attempt from inside the penalty area. Rimando got his hand up and behind himself to knock the shot up and over the crossbar.
As good as the save was, however, Rimando's breakdown a minute later was just as forgettable. Holden's long shot from beyond the right side of the penalty area went in when Rimando deflected the ball up and under the crossbar to give Houston a 1-0 lead.
Fortune began to swing Real's way in the 72nd minute when Kyle Beckerman was taken down from behind by Eddie Robinson just outside the penalty area. Robinson was shown a red card by referee Tim Weyland, giving RSL a one-man advantage and a free kick in ideal position. Beckerman's attempt, however was cleared off the line by Richard Mulrooney.
Real's manpower advantage, however, was taken back in the 77th minute when Movsisyan and Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad started roughing it up enough to force teammates to come over and break it up. Movsisyan was shown a red card by Weyland, and the game proceeded with both teams fielding 10 players.
Real coach Jason Kreis, however, was not about to let Pope play in a loss in his last game in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kreis put Fabian Espindola into the game in place of Dustin Kirby, ramping up the offense and looking for the tying goal. Espindola forced a corner kick in the 84th minute, and a free kick in the 85th, but Real could not take advantage and ended up with a loss.
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
