RSL MF Andy Williams Called into Jamaican National Team for World Cup Qualifiers
Real Salt Lake MF Andy Williams today was named to the Jamaican National Team squad that will begin the island nation's march towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a pair of CONCACAF region qualifiers against the Bahamas next week. Williams will depart Salt Lake City on Thursday for Jamaica, where the "Reggae Boyz" and the Bahamas will square off in a pair of contests on Sunday, June 15, at Independence Park in Kingston and Wednesday, June 18, at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny. The victor of that series will advance to CONCACAF's semifinal round of qualifying, which will be contested in a home-and-away, round-robin format featuring three groups of four teams, with the top two squads in each group advancing to the final round.
The 30-year-old Williams ended his two-year retirement from international soccer last Tuesday, when he played the full 90 minutes for Jamaica in its 5-1 victory over St. Vincent & the Grenadines in Kingston. That game marked Williams' 83rd appearance for the Reggae Boyz since making his debut in 1998, which is when newly-reappointed Jamaica head coach Rene Simoes led the squad to its lone World Cup appearance in France. During his absence, Williams will miss Real Salt Lake's next two contests - this Saturday's road match at Chivas USA and next Wednesday's contest at home against the San Jose Earthquakes.
RSL Hopes to Get the Goats Saturday at Chivas USA
After wrapping up a brief two-game homestand last weekend, Real Salt Lake (3-5-3, 12 pts.) will return to the road this weekend for a tilt this Saturday, June 14, against Chivas USA (4-5-2, 14 pts.). Kick-off from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. is set for 8:30 p.m. MT, with the contest being broadcast live on the KSL 5.3 digital channel (Comcast Cable channel 105) and over the radio airwaves on KALL 700 Sports (RSL First Kick begins at 7:30 p.m.; RSL Extra Time following at 10:45 p.m.) and Ke Buena AM-1600.
History has not been kind for Real Salt Lake when it comes to Chivas USA, with RSL trailing the all-time series 2-7-3. The series between the 2005 MLS expansion partners has been nothing short of one-sided at The Home Depot Center, where RSL has been outscored 18-3 in its previous seven games (0-6-1), including a 3-1 defeat on April 5, that began this year's three-game season slate between the squads. RSL has been able to bring back a point just once from Chivas USA, when the squads dueled to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 15, 2006.
Real Salt Lake Schedule: June 10-15, 2008 (all times MDT)
All RSL practices are open to members of the media and the general public, with media availability for all players and coaches to immediately follow each session. Those planning on attending any session can confirm the time and location of that day's training by contacting the RSL Communications Department at 801-924-8584.
Tuesday, June 10: Training at XanGo Field in Lehi - 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 11: OFF DAY
Thursday, June 12: Training at XanGo Field - 10:00 a.m.
Friday, June 13: Training at XanGo Field - 10:00 a.m.; Depart for Los Angeles
Saturday, June 14: Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA - 8:30 p.m.
The Home Depot Center - Carson, Calif.
TV: KSL 5.3 Digital (Comcast Ch. 105)
Radio: KALL 700 Sports and "Ke Buena" AM-1600
Sunday, June 15: Return to Salt Lake City; Off Day
"Dr. Goals" to Make a Call on Tuesday's Edition of the RSL Coach's Corner
The KALL 700 Sports RSL Coach's Corner will return to the airwaves tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., when KALL 700 Sports afternoon host Bill Riley will be joined by Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis and the pride of Denny, Scotland, FW Kenny Deuchar. Riley, Kreis, and Deuchar will recap last weekend's scoreless draw against Kansas City while also taking a look ahead at what to expect when RSL travels to Southern California this weekend to take on Chivas USA. With this week's edition originating from the KALL 700 Sports studios, fans won't be able to ask their questions in person, but one and all can chime in with their views and questions on all things RSL by dialing in to the KALL 700 Sports caller hotlines at 470-0700 (Utah County), 570-0700 (Salt Lake County), 670-0700 (Davis & Weber Counties), and 877-353-0700 (toll-free)
Decision 2008: MLS All-Star Online Voting Underway
Online voting for the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game is underway and open on www.mlsnet.com, meaning Real Salt Lake fans can cast their votes for the 12 eligible RSL players on this year's ballot! Fans can vote for the All-Star First XI online at www.mlsnet.com by selecting one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. Fans can vote up to 10 times per day. The online fan balloting program, which concludes on Wednesday, July 2, will comprise 25 percent of the total vote for the All-Star First XI, with coaches and general managers, players, and media each holding 25 percent of the vote to combine for the remaining 75 percent. The MLS All-Star First XI will be announced on Thursday, July 10 and the All-Star Reserves and Commissioner's Selections will be announced on Tuesday, July 15.
Real Sports This Week: Everybody Wins with New RSL Ties!
Father's Day is this weekend, so go ahead and make the dad in your family a winner by getting him the Real Sports' Item of the Week - one of two Buffalo Bay-designed RSL neckties, available for $45. The pair of ties will be available along with several new items of RSL merchandise - including flags, floor mats, key chains, magnets, license plate frames, bottle openers, and "Fans Only" signs - and tickets for all upcoming RSL home contests at the Real Sports location at Valley Fair Mall (3601 S. 2700 West) in West Valley City. While the RSL Merchandise Department has announced the closing of its Fashion Place Mall and Provo Towne Centre locations, it is proud to maintain its Valley Fair Mall location, which is open from 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Real Sports will take its merchandise show on the road across the Beehive State this week, beginning with an appearance at the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City from Wednesday through Friday. In addition, Real Sports will make the latest and greatest RSL gear and merchandise available at the Coldwell Banker Summer Soccer Series clinic on Wednesday, being held at the XanGo Practice Field on Lehi from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
"Dodge Summer Twofer Pack" Driving RSL Fans to Contests vs. San Jose and Houston
Real Salt Lake and Dodge are teaming up to provide soccer fans discounted tickets to a pair of upcoming RSL contests via the Dodge Summer Twofer Pack. The RSL/Dodge discount deal will allow fans to attend RSL's upcoming contests at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, against the San Jose Earthquakes and Thursday, July 3, against the Houston Dynamo, with North Goal seats for the matches available at $25 and Premium seats costing just $35 for both games. For more information on the RSL Dodge Summer Twofer Pack, including how to order yours, please call the RSL Office at 801-924-8585, or visit the "Tickets" section of www.RealSaltLake.com.
RSL-Utah Under-17 Team Gathers for First Time on Tuesday
After seeing more than 110 players try out, Real Salt Lake last week announced the 32 players that will comprise the RSL-Utah Under-17 squad that will compete under the banner of Utah's MLS side this summer. The RSL-Utah U-17's will gather for the first time tomorrow at Real Salt Lake's XanGo Field facility in Lehi, with training sessions scheduled to be held on both Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting. For more information on the Real Salt Lake youth development program, including a listing of the 2008 RSL-Utah U-17 roster, please visit www.RealSaltLake.com.
RSL Stadium Seating Relocation Event Information Available at www.RSLstadium.com
Real Salt Lake invites current and future Royal Club members (season ticket holders) to visit www.RSLstadium.com for information leading up to the RSL Stadium Seating Relocation Event, taking place the week of June 23-27. The new stadium seating "micro-site" includes plenty of new information on the future home of Real Salt Lake, including a PDF version of the comprehensive RSL Relocation Guide, 2009 season ticket prices, a sneak peek at the Seats 3D virtual seat viewer, ways for prospective season ticket holders to secure their seats for the 2009 season, and much more. To see all the features and details, please visit www.RSLstadium.com.
RSL Rewind: 'Keepers Come to Forefront in Scoreless Draw against Wizards
Real Salt Lake stayed undefeated at home for the 2008 campaign but went without the three point result it was looking for last Saturday after settling for a 0-0 draw with the Kansas City Wizards at Rice-Eccles Stadium. After the visiting Wizards (3-4-3, 12 pts.) enjoyed the run of play in the first 20 minutes, Real Salt Lake (3-5-3, 12 pts.) regrouped to put a barrage of shots on goal before the halftime break, but Kansas City GK Kevin Hartman was up to the task, making five of his seven saves in the first stanza en route to his MLS career-best 71st clean sheet. Not to be outdone was RSL netminder Nick Rimando, who was not tested as often but came up big in the 89th minute, diving fully to his right to knock wide a shot from distance by Wizards MF Kerry Zavagnin that preserved his 45th career shutout, good for sixth place on MLS's career chart in the category.
