OGDEN, UT (Tuesday, July 31, 2007) - A goal on either side of halftime was more than enough to lift Real Salt Lake to a 2-0 exhibition win over the Ogden Outlaws of the USL Premier Development League (PDL) Tuesday evening at St. Joseph's High School in Ogden. RSL MF Kyle Beckerman would notch the eventual game-winner in the game's second minute, while playmaker Andy Williams tacked on an insurance tally in the 81st minute to seal the result.
Real Salt Lake would play the majority of its first team for the first half of the exhibition, and they started things out in quick fashion with Beckerman's goal just 80 seconds in. The newly-acquired midfielder pounced on a rebounded shot 10 yards from goal and lashed a shot into the left side-netting to put the MLS side up 1-0. As expected, RSL dominated the play in the opening 45 minutes, controlling possession throughout but having no more to show for it, as MF Chris Wingert saw his cross-turned-shot in the 28th minute miss a foot wide of the far right post, while shots from distance by MF Nathan Sturgis and FW Chris Brown later in the half missed just high and wide right, respectively.
RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis made wholesale substitutions at the half, bringing in a fresh 11-man unit to tackle the second stanza. RSL MF Steven Curfman nearly doubled the lead in the 66th minute, but his sliding attempt inside the six-yard box was snuffed out by Outlaws GK Jeff Rogers. Ogden had reason to fume four minutes later when RSL defender Nik Besagno appeared to make contact on the ball with his hand inside the penalty area, but the referee made no call and play continued. Williams would nearly strike in the 77th minute when he sent an eight-yard shot right to Rogers, but he would not be denied four minutes later, as he took a touch to settle a cross from MF Chris Lancos and ripped his effort from the top of the area into goal for the 2-0 lead. RSL had one more chance to up the score in the 83rd minute, but a deft chip from MF Christian Jimenez would kiss off the crossbar before being cleared from the penalty area.
Scoring Summary:
RSL - Kyle Beckerman (unassisted) 2
RSL - Andy Williams (Chris Lancos) 81
Discipline Summary:
None
Real Salt Lake (4-3-1-2): GK-Nick Rimando (Kyle Reynish 45); D-Jean-Martial Kipre (Dustin Kirby 45), D-Eddie Pope (Jack Stewart 45), D-Ritchie Kotschau (Nik Besagno 45), D-Chris Wingert (Willis Forko 45); M-Jamie Watson (Chris Lancos 45), M-Kyle Beckerman (Kenny Cutler 45), M-Nathan Sturgis (Steven Curfman 45); M-Atiba Harris (Christian Jimenez 45); F-Robbie Findley (Adam Acosta 45), F-Chris Brown (Andy Williams 45)
Ogden Outlaws (4-4-2): GK-Devin Zimmerman (Jeff Rogers 45); D-Russell McCluskey, D-Kennan Powell (Tysen Gehring 45), D-Mike Hickman Jr., D-Jonny Broadhead, M-Andrew Morris, M-Matt Broadhead (Jesse Cupfer 45), M-James Jaramillo (Robert Clayton Zelin III 45), M-Kellan Christensen, F-Kenneth Hickman, F-Kyle Christensen.
