U.S. Soccer today announced the 16-man roster named by U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team Head Coach Thomas Rongen that will take on reigning world champion Argentina in an international friendly on Tuesday, May 15, at PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y. Among the 13 professionals named to the squad, which includes 11 MLS-based players, were Real Salt Lake MF Freddy Adu and GK Chris Seitz, as the duo continues to solidify their spots on the U.S. squad that will take part in the FIFA World Youth Championships across June and July in Canada. Kickoff for the match is set for 5:00 p.m. MT, and fans can follow the match live with streaming video coverage on ussoccer.com's MatchACCESS beginning at 4:45 p.m.
This will be the sixth time the U.S. and Argentina have met at this age level in the past five years. The U.S. has faced Argentina twice during this cycle, with both games occurring in 2006 and the teams each coming away with a victory. In the first meeting, the U.S. fell, 4-0, in Argentina during their tour of the country in April. Five months later, the U.S. defeated Argentina, 3-1, in their final match of the Busan Four Nations International Tournament in Busan, South Korea.
U.S. Roster vs. Argentina - May 15 at PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alec Dufty (University of Evansville), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): Amaechi Igwe (New England Revolution), Quavas Kirk (L.A. Galaxy), Jesus Padilla (Chivas de Guadalajara/MEX), Nathan Sturgis (L.A. Galaxy), Julian Valentin (Wake Forest University), Tim Ward (Columbus Crew)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Freddy Adu (Real Salt Lake), Jalil Anibaba (Davis, Calif.), Bryan Arguez (D.C. United), Rodrigo Lopez (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: (3): Josmer Altidore (N.Y. Red Bulls), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Johann Smith (Carlisle United/ENG)
A detailed roster is also available at www.ussoccer.com.
Are You Ready for Some Futbol? RSL Hosts Rapids in MLS's First-Ever Monday Night Affair in One Week
After playing three games in eight days, Real Salt Lake (0-1-2, 2 pts.) will have a full week to prepare for what is being billed as "Monday Night Futbol" - Major League Soccer's first-ever Monday night regular season contest between RSL and the Colorado Rapids next Monday, April 30. Kick-off at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first of four Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry affairs during regular season play is set for 7:00 p.m. MT. Seats are available now by visiting the "TICKET" section of RSL's Official Website, www.RealSaltLake.com, or by calling 801-924-8585. Those that can't make it to the historic contest can follow the action live by tuning into KALL-AM 700 "The Zone" (English) and KXTA-AM 1600 "La Bonita" (Spanish).
In just two seasons, the rivalry between Real Salt Lake and Colorado has grown into one of the most heated in all of Major League Soccer. RSL trails the series against the Rapids by a 2-5-1 margin, including a 1-2-1 record in the four-game series last season. Real Salt Lake is also 1-2-1 against Colorado in four career meetings at Rice-Eccles Stadium, which included a 2-2 draw on May 27 and a 1-0 defeat on Sept. 2 in last year's two regular season match-ups in Salt Lake City.
RSL Reserves Open 2007 Play with 2-1 Loss at Chivas USA
The Real Salt Lake Reserves (0-1-0, 0 pts.) began play in the 2007 MLS Reserve Division on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat at the Chivas USA Reserves (1-1-1, 4 pts.) in a match contested at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. RSL FW Chris Brown gave the visitors from Utah the lead in the 17th minute, as he finished a fine pass from MF Duke Hashimoto with a low shot to put RSL up 1-0. The advantage was short-lived, however, as Chivas USA FW Laurent Merlin would even the match just four minutes later, while Chivas DF Bobby Burling would tally just past the hour mark to put the home squad up by the final 2-1 margin. The RSL Reserves will return to action next Tuesday, May 1, when they will play the first of six MLS RD home contests against their counterparts from the Colorado Rapids at Quinn's Junction in Park City at 10:00 a.m. MT.
Real Salt Lake Schedule: April 24-30, 2007:
All practices are open to media members. All times and locations are subject to change. Please contact the RSL Communications Department at 801-924-8584 to confirm times and venues.
DAY/DATE SITE TIME (MT)
Tues., April 24 Training at Lakeside Park in Orem 10:00 a.m.
Wed., April 25 Training at Lakeside Park in Orem 10:00 a.m.
Thurs., April 26 Training at Lakeside Park in Orem 10:00 a.m.
Fri., April 27 Training at Lakeside Park in Orem 10:00 a.m.
Sat., April 28 Training at Rice-Eccles Stadium 1:30 p.m.
Sun., April 29 Training at Rice-Eccles Stadium 1:30 p.m.
Mon., April 30 Real Salt Lake v. Colorado Rapids 7:00 p.m.
RSL Rewind: Up and Down Week Sees RSL Celebrate First Win, Suffer First Defeat
Real Salt Lake started off an up-and-down week last Wednesday, when the squad used an overtime goal from MF Andy Williams to chalk up its first win of 2007 via a 2-1 result over the Kansas City Wizards in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in contest at Rice-Eccles Stadium. In the 12th minute it was RSL FW Jeff Cunningham putting the home side up 1-0 with a well-struck, upper right 90 conversion from the penalty spot, but Wizards MF Sasha Victorine made things interesting with a tally in the 88th minute that sent the game into added time. It was Williams playing the Open Cup hero once again, as he hooked up with Cunningham for a nifty give-and-go at the top of the area before slotting a shot inside the left post from 15 yards in the 109th minute to lift RSL to the win. With the win, RSL now advances to another U.S. Open Cup play-in game, this time taking to the road for a clash against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, May 23, with the winner becoming one of the eight MLS squads to enter the tournament proper during the Third Round in July.
After experiencing its first win of 2007, Real Salt Lake quickly came back down to earth on Saturday, when the squad fell 4-0 at Chivas USA in the squad's 2007 road debut in MLS play. The rough night started even before kick-off, as DF Danny Torres was a late scratch from the starting line-up due to a left hamstring strain suffered during warm-ups. It only got worse from there, as two goals from Chivas USA FW Maykel Galindo in the first nine minutes put RSL behind the eight-ball, and FW Ante Razov's 100th regular season goal in the 43rd minute all but doomed the visitors before the halftime break came. Chivas USA reserve FW Matt Taylor spearheaded the home side's relentless attack in the second half, paying off with the game's final tally off his own rebounded shot in the 88th minute to put a cap on the scoring.
MF Andy Williams Out 4-8 Weeks With Right High Ankle Sprain
Real Salt Lake MF Andy Williams will miss 4-8 weeks after suffering a high sprain of his right ankle during Saturday night's contest at Chivas USA. X-rays on Williams' lower right leg showed no fractures, but additional x-rays will be taken early this week to determine the severity of the sprain, at which time a more exact timeline of his return will be made available. Williams, a halftime substitute in Sunday's 4-0 defeat and the hero of the squad's 2-1 overtime win over Kansas City in U.S. Open Cup play earlier in the week, was injured in the 76th minute of Saturday's contest on a challenge from behind by Chivas USA MF Sacha Kljestan, who was shown a yellow card for the offense.
Ballouchy, Torres & Tejeda Revise Schedule for Saturday's Dia Del Nino Festival
Due to a conflict with the team's practice schedule, RSL MF Mehdi Ballouchy, DF Danny Torres, and FW Luis Tejada will now appear at the team's Dia Del Nino Festival at Library Square (210 East 400 South in Salt Lake City) from 12:00-12:45 p.m. MT this Saturday, April 28. The RSL trio will conduct a soccer clinic, host book readings, and sign autographs and pose for pictures with kids in attendance at the festival.
Kyle Brown and Nik Besagno to Join John Ellinger for Tuesday's "Jerry Seiner RSL Coaches Show"
If it's Tuesday, that means its time for the "Jerry Seiner RSL Coaches Show" on KALL-AM 700 "The Zone." Real Salt Lake FW Kyle Brown and DF Nik Besagno will join Head Coach John Ellinger for tomorrow evening's program, which is hosted by the voice of RSL, Bill Riley. As always, fans are invited to the Jerry Seiner Downtown Salt Lake GM Dealership (1530 South 500 West in Salt Lake City) from 6:00-7:00 p.m. MT to see the show and ask their questions to the RSL trio in person.
Coach John Ellinger Postpones Weekly Visit to "The Manly Morning Show" Until Wednesday
Fans expecting to tune into "The Manly Morning Show" on 1280-AM "The Zone" tomorrow to catch RSL Head Coach John Ellinger's weekly visit to the studio will have to wait one more day, as Ellinger will appear on Wednesday morning's program this week at his usually 8:30 a.m. MT time slot. As always, Ellinger will join hosts David James and Patrick Kinahan to recap the week that was and that will be with RSL while also adding his comments to the sporting topics of the day.
FW Jeff Rowland and DF Chris Lancos Get Real This Week at Real Sports
Real Salt Lake FW Jeff Rowland and DF Chris Lancos will be the latest RSL player to sign autographs at the team's brand-new merchandise location, the Real Sports kiosk at Fashion Place Mall in Murray, later this week. Rowland will join fans at the new merchandise location from 6:00-7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, April 25, while Lancos will appear at the same time the following evening on Thursday, April 26. RSL fans have flocked to the new kiosk to grab officially licensed RSL merchandise, a selection that now includes the 2007 edition of the authentic adidas RSL Xango away jersey. In addition, Real Sports is also South Salt Lake's best destination to purchase tickets for all 2007 RSL home contests, with Corner Goal and Premium seat vouchers available at the kiosk until kick-off for all RSL matches, including next week's special "Monday Night Futbol" clash against the Colorado Rapids.
