RSL Welcomes Supporters Shield Holder D.C. United to Rice-Eccles Saturday
The schedule for Real Salt Lake (0-1-1, 1 pt.) certainly does not get any easier upon returning home this week, as Utah's MLS side will welcome defending MLS Supporters Shield holder (regular season champion) D.C. United (1-1-0, 3 pts.) to Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday, April 12, for a 7:00 p.m. MT kick-off on the hill. After completing the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal series against Mexican side Pachuca this Wednesday in the Nation's Capital, Argentine World Cup veteran Marcelo Gallardo, MLS all-time leading scorer Jaime Moreno and the rest of the "Black-and-Red" will head to the Wasatch Front for Saturday's contest, which will be broadcast live on the MLS Direct Kick (DirecTV, DishNet & InDemand) and MLSLIVE.tv (internet) pay-per-view packages. Fans can also follow the action live over the radio airwaves on KALL 700 Sports (English) - with pre-game coverage beginning with RSL First Kick at 6:00 p.m. - and Ke Buena 1600 AM (Spanish). Tickets for Saturday's contest are still available and can be purchased by calling the RSL Offices at 801-924-8585, in person at the RSL Office at 515 S. 700 East, Suite #2R (Trolley Corners building) in downtown Salt Lake City, or online by visiting www.RealSaltLake.com.
Real Salt Lake can even up the all-time series against D.C. United on Saturday, as RSL enters the contest with a 2-3-1 career record against the Black-and-Red. RSL actually leads the way at Rice-Eccles, as a 2-1 victory over United in each of the last two seasons has improved the Utah side's home ledger in the series to 2-1-0.
"Dr Goals" is In: Deuchar's Header up for Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week
As if scoring his first goal in an RSL uniform wasn't enough, FW Kenny Deuchar's header from last Saturday's match at Chivas USA is in the running for the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week award for Week 2. After RSL fell behind 2-0 to the Goats in the 55th minute, Deuchar would respond immediately for his new squad, as "The Good Doctor" rose above the fray at the top of the six-yard box to nod home MF Javier Morales's perfectly-placed free kick from the left flank. Fans can visit www.MLSnet.com through Wednesday morning to vote on their favorite goal from this past week, with other nominees including efforts from Kenny Cooper, Tomasz Frankowski, Geoff Cameron and some guy named David Beckham.
Real Sports Ramps up for Busy Week at Fashion Place Mall
RSL rookie midfielders Kevin Reiman and Brennan Tennelle will head to Real Sports location at Fashion Place Mall in Murray (6161 S. State St.) to kick off a busy week at the team's flagship merchandise headquarters. The former Maryland Terrapin Reiman and UCSB Gaucho Tennelle - both of whom made their RSL debuts in yesterday's 1-1 Reserve Division draw at Chivas USA - will sign autographs and greet visitors at the Fashion Place Real Sports kiosk this Monday and Wednesday night, respectively, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. MT. The autograph appearances are just the tip of the iceberg of a busy week of events and offers:
Fans heading to any of the three Real Sports kiosks throughout the Wasatch Front can take advantage of the Real Sports Item of the Week - the new RSL yellow pre-game jersey - which will be available for just $35 through this Saturday, April 12 (a $10 savings). KALL 700 Sports host and the voice of Real Salt Lake, Bill Riley, will take his show to the masses this Friday, April 11, when he'll host "The Bill Riley Show" live from the Fashion Place Mall Real Sports location from 3:00-7:00 p.m. to get everyone ready for the following day's contest against D.C. United. Real Salt Lake will give fans the chance to track future matches, community appearances, and any other official club happenings throughout the remainder of the year via this week's Item of the Game, the official 2008 Real Salt Lake calendar, which hits the market this Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium for $30. Fans can also reminded that they can purchase tickets to any of RSL's regular season home contests and pick up any pieces from the new '08 line of officially-licensed RSL/adidas merchandise at all three Real Sports kiosks located at Fashion Place Mall (6161 S. State St. in Murray), Valley Fair Mall (3601 S. 2700 West in West Valley City), Provo Towne Centre (1200 Town Centre Blvd. in Provo).
KALL 700 Sports' RSL Coach's Corner Live Tomorrow from Sportsplex in Kaysville
The KALL 700 Sports RSL Coach's Corner will head north to Davis County this week, as the voice of RSL, Bill Riley, will host this Tuesday's edition live from the Sportsplex in Kaysville (1188 Sportsplex Drive) in conjunction with the facility's continuing grand opening celebrations. In addition to RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis, Riley will be joined tomorrow evening by veteran midfielder Carey Talley and rookie defender Tony Beltran, all of who will provide their insights on the season to date and keep fans informed on what to expect this Saturday when RSL returns home to face D.C. United. Fans of soccer and all sports are invited to join Riley, Kreis & Co. at the Sportsplex tomorrow night, as tours of the impressive new facility will be given and free clinics on injury prevention and speed and agility training - including free time trials for athletes interested in gauging their speed - will also be offered to those in attendance.
RSL Rewind: Former Teammates Foil RSL in 3-1 Loss at Chivas USA
Former RSL strikers Atiba Harris and Alecko Eskandarian exacted revenge on their old side on Saturday night, as the duo each hit the back of the net for Chivas USA in the second half to put home the go-ahead and insurance goals in Chivas USA's 3-1 victory over RSL at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Chivas USA struck first just past the half-hour mark on a Sacha Kljestan tally in the 32nd minute, and Harris helped the Goats double the advantage in the 55th minute as he crashed the net to redirect a cross from Kljestan from the right flank. New acquisition FW Kenny Deuchar made sure to keep things close with his first goal in an RSL uniform just two minutes after the Harris tally, but Eskandarian would end RSL's furious attempt to equalize with a breakaway goal in the third of four minutes of second half stoppage time. The defeat dropped RSL's record at Chivas USA to 0-5-1 all-time and marked the eighth straight match without a win against its 2005 MLS expansion brethren (0-5-3).
Matias Cordoba's Late Goal Earns RSL Reserves a Point from Season-opening Draw
The Real Salt Lake Reserves used a goal in second half stoppage time from MF Matias Cordoba to earn a 1-1 draw with the Chivas USA Reserves yesterday morning at the Track and Field Stadium at The Home Depot Center in Carson. Chivas USA MF Kraig Chiles gave the Red-and-White the lead in the 14th minute of the match, but Cordoba's rebound off MF Brennan Tennelle's header that hit the left post drew the visitors even one minute into added time, allowing Salt Lake to head back to Utah with a point in tow. RSL will have a month off before making its 2008 home debut in MLS Reserve Division play against the LA Galaxy Reserves on Sunday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. (site TBA).
