LAUDERHILL - Real Salt Lake suffered its initial defeat of the 2008 preseason this afternoon, as the Utah side fell 2-1 to Lynn University in a 90-minute scrimmage contested at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Fla. With the result, Real Salt Lake's exhibition record stands at 3-1-0 leading up to this Friday's Rocky Mountain Cup preview against the Colorado Rapids, also to be held at Central Broward Regional Park (7:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. MT).
Today's contest against Lynn was played in three, 30-minute periods, and Real Salt Lake looked poised to break through in the first 15 minutes behind strong attacking up the heart of the field. But RSL would not be able to crack the Lynn defense and ended the first period scoreless.
Lynn would change that in the 47th minute when a second-ball opportunity fell into space 25 yards from goal. A Fighting Knights attacker ran onto the ball and took a first-time crack at goal, the blast beating fully-extended 'keeper Chris Seitz and powering into the left side netting to give Lynn a 1-0 advantage. MF Carey Talley nearly pulled RSL even in the 59th minute, but his low effort off a set piece from 30 yards out sneaked just wide of the right post, giving Lynn the advantage heading into the match's final period.
The final half hour started well for Real Salt Lake, as FW Fabian Espíndola notched his second goal of the preseason in the 62nd minute to even things up at 1-1. RSL's preseason scoring leader Yura Movsisyan played the role of distributor this time, feeding Espíndola a ball 35 yards from goal, and the Argentine striker did the rest, darting to the top of the penalty area and firing a low shot that beat the Lynn 'keeper to his right to bring the score level. A minute later it would be Movsisyan nearly putting the Utah side up as he found himself alone 14 yards from goal, but the Lynn netminder came off his line to block the effort almost before it left his foot.
The Knights were limited to mostly set pieces and breakaway opportunities for the final 30 minutes, but one chance was all they would need in the 79th minute, when a 2-v-1 breakaway into the right side of the RSL penalty area ended with a Lynn attacker striking a well-taken, cross-body shot from eight yards out that beat GK Nick Rimando into the left side of goal to give the collegians a 2-1 advantage that would hold up until the finish.
RSL Training Camp Notes
• RSL's latest addition to the team, DF Nat Borchers, made his debut with the squad today, playing the final 30 minutes of the contest in his familiar central back position.
• This Friday's contest against the Rapids will be one of only two preseason contests against MLS opposition, the other coming on March 22 when RSL takes on the Kansas City Wizards in the 2008 Saturn Challenge Cup in Oklahoma City.
Real Salt Lake 1 : 2 Lynn University
RSL Spring Exhibition #4
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Central Broward Regional Park - Lauderhill, Fla.
Scoring Summary
LYNN - 47'
RSL - Fabian Espíndola 2 (Yura Movsisyan 1) 62'
LYNN - 79'
Discipline Summary
RSL - Tony Beltran (caution) 27'
RSL Line-up: GK-Kyle Reynish (Chris Seitz 30) (Nick Rimando 60); DF-Tony Beltran (Craig Ziadie 30), DF-Matias Mantilla (Dustin Kirby 45), DF-David Horst (Nat Borchers 60), DF-Ian Joy (Chris Wingert 30) (Salim Bullen 60); MF-Andy Williams (Alex Nimo 45), MF-Kenny Cutler (Carey Talley 45), MF-Javier Morales (Nathan Sturgis 45), MF-Matias Cordoba (Kevin Reiman 45); FW-Indra Sahdan Daud (Tino Nunez 30) (Yura Movsisyan 60), FW-Robbie Findley (Kyle Brown 30) (Fabian Espíndola 60).
