Real Salt Lake FW Jeff Cunningham was selected as the MLS Player of the Week for his two-goal performance in RSL's opening game of the season last Saturday, April 7, versus FC Dallas. Cunningham, last season's Budweiser Golden Boot winner, notched goals in the 29th and 51st minutes of Real Salt Lake's 2-2 tie against FC Dallas, his second goal giving Real Salt Lake a 2-1 lead at the time.
Now in his tenth MLS season, Cunningham ranks fourth on the all-time goals scored list, as Saturday's two-goal performance raised his career total to 92. Teammate Jason Kreis (108), Jaime Moreno (105) and Ante Razov (99) are the only three players currently ahead of veteran striker. Cunningham also registered his 15th career multi-goal game on the day, moving him into a third-place tie with Moreno and placing him behind only Razov (21) and Carlos Ruiz (16) in the category.
Cunningham is coming off of a stellar 2006 season in which he scored 16 goals to win the Golden Boot award and a place among the three finalists for Honda MVP. He was named MLS Player of the Week a League-high four times in 2006 and has won the award nine times in his 10-year career. Cunningham and Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy) hold the record for most MLS Player of the Week awards with nine each.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
RSL Prepares for Columbus Crew Saturday at Rice-Eccles
Real Salt Lake (0-0-1, 1 pt.) continues it season-starting home-stand at Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday, April 14, with another matinee, this time entertaining the Columbus Crew (0-0-1, 1 pt.) for another 4:00 p.m. MT kick-off. Fans can follow the action on television via the MLS Direct Kick pay-per-view package (DirecTV and DISH Network) or over the radio airwaves on KALL-AM 700 "The Zone" (English) and KXTA-AM1600 "La Bonita" (Spanish).
Real Salt Lake trails the all-time series against The Crew 1-3-0, but the Utah side did pick up a win in its last meeting against Columbus, a 2-1 victory at Rice-Eccles last August 16, on the strength of late-game strikes from midfielders Chris Klein and Carey Talley. That match resulted in a split of the 2006 season series, as The Crew defended their home turf on May 6, a Jason Garey goal accounting for all the scoring in RSL's 1-0 loss at Crew Stadium.
RSL Rewind: Late Goal Sees RSL Settle for 2-2 Draw With FC Dallas
After coming back from an early deficit, Real Salt Lake saw an apparent three points turn into one last Saturday, as an FC Dallas goal deep in second half stoppage time resulted in a 2-2 draw in both squads' 2007 MLS regular season opener in front of 18.678 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium. RSL FW Jeff Cunningham notched a goal on either side of the halftime break - an equalizer in the 29th minute and the go-ahead tally in the 51st minute - to pace the Real Salt Lake offensive attack, but an FC Dallas goal off a desperate cross into the box with less than 30 seconds remaining would result in a share of the spoils in the Western Conference affair.
Real Salt Lake Sees Largest Crowd for MLS First Kick 2007 Weekend
Last Saturday's 2-2 draw against FC Dallas marked the first time in its short three-year history that Real Salt Lake hosted a match during the opening week of MLS play, and judging by the crowd on hand at Rice-Eccles Stadium it won't be the last time. The 18,678 spectators on hand marked the biggest crowd during the 2007 MLS First Kick weekend, and also marked the ninth largest attendance for a regular season contest in RSL history.
Attendance for MLS First Kick 2007 Weekend
FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake - 18,678
D.C. United at Colorado Rapids - 18,086 (Inaugural Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
Houston Dynamo at Los Angeles Galaxy - 16,404
New England Revolution at Chicago Fire - 15,353
Toronto FC at Chivas USA - 14,351
New York Red Bulls at Columbus Crew - 13,782
RSL Announces U.S. Open Cup/International Friendly Doubleheader on Wednesday, April 18
Real Salt Lake will pull double duty on Wednesday, April 18, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, when the squad will take on a pair of opponents in a doubleheader featuring RSL's debut in the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Kansas City Wizards and an international friendly match against the Fiji National Team. The U.S. Open Cup tilt against the Wizards will start off the twin bill at 5:00 p.m. MT, with the contest against Fiji slated for a 7:30 p.m. kick. Real Salt Lake Season Ticket holders will be able to use "Bonus Ticket A" to gain entry to the contest, while tickets for the two-for-one night of soccer, ranging from $17-40, are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (801) 924-8585 or visiting the club's official website, www.RealSaltLake.com.
"Election '07"... Vote Cunningham's First Half Strike as Sierra Mist Goal of the Week
Real Salt Lake FW Jeff Cunningham's 29th minute tally last Saturday against FC Dallas not only served as RSL's first goal of the 2007, but it could also become the first Sierra Mist Goal of the Week of the 2007 campaign. Fans can help the MLS Player of the Week pull off the "weekly double" by voting his equalizing settle-and-finish from 14 yards out from among the five nominees for the first Goal of the Week award, an honor that RSL players won on six occasions during the 2006 season. Fans can visit www.MLSnet.com and click on the "Sierra Mist Goal of the Week" link to vote for Cunningham until this Wednesday, April 11, at 10:00 a.m. MT.
Real Sports at Fashion Place Mall a Real Hit!
Real Salt Lake would like to thank all its fans who attended last Thursday's opening of the Real Sports kiosk at Fashion Place Mall in Murray, as fans from all across the area took advantage of the location to get ready for Saturday's season opener. With the grand opening now past, Real Sports will get in midseason form this week when it begins it weekly player appearances, with DF Willis Forko scheduled to appear from 6:00-7:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, April 11, and MF Christian Jimenez set to sign autographs from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12.
KALL-AM 700 "The Zone" personality Bill Riley will help get fans ready for RSL's game against the Columbus Crew when he hosts this Friday's edition of the "The Bill Riley Show" at Real Sports from 1:00-4:00 p.m. MT. During the show, Real Salt Lake and "The Zone" will be handing out plenty of giveaways, including RSL tickets, gear from adidas, Famous Dave's BBQ "Pig Bucks", and a certificate for three days attendance to any of the MLS Camps being conducted across the Salt Lake Valley this spring and summer.
Real Sports has also announced that it will continue the "Real Deal" for this weekend's game, which includes a Corner Goal section voucher for this Saturday's match against Columbus and a Real Salt Lake scarf for just $25, a savings of $15 off the retail price. Real Sports is South Salt Lake's best destination not only for officially licensed RSL merchandise but for tickets as well, as corner Goal and Premium seat vouchers will be available at the kiosk for all RSL home matches this season up until kick-off.
Real Salt Lake Schedule: April 9-14, 2007:
All practices are open to media members. All times and locations are subject to change.
DAY/DATE SITE TIME (MT)
Monday, April 9 OFF DAY
Tuesday, April 10 Training at Lakeside Park; Orem, UT 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 11 Training at Lakeside Park; Orem, UT 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 12 Training at Rice-Eccles Stadium 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 13 Training at Rice-Eccles Stadium 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 14 RSL vs. Crew at Rice-Eccles Stadium 4:00 p.m.
(Gates/Carnival Real open at 3 p.m.)
