SANDY, Utah - RSL Kicks Off 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs with East Semifinal Leg One Saturday v. Columbus
After qualifying for the postseason on the final weekend of the regular season, Real Salt Lake will begin its second consecutive trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs this Saturday, October 31, when the Claret-and-Cobalt will host the defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew in Leg One of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. Pre-game festivities and build-up to kickoff at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy will begin at 4:00 p.m. MT, which is also when live coverage on KUTV 2.2 Digital will begin with the America First Credit Union Pre-Match Report. Fans can also tune into KACP 570-AM (coverage begins with America First Credit Union Pre-Match Report at 3:00 p.m.) and ESPN Deportes 1600-AM to hear all the action live.
Following Saturday's first leg, the two squads will head to the Buckeye State next Thursday, Nov. 5, to square off in Leg Two of the semifinal series, slated for a 5:30 p.m. MT start (live on ESPN2) at Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio's capital city. If the home-and-home series between Real Salt Lake and Columbus follows the script from their two regular season meetings in 2009, fans can expect an entertaining Eastern Conference Semifinal Series over the next two weeks. The two sides first met in Real Salt Lake's home opener back on April 2, when FW Robbie Findley's historic hat trick - the first in regular season play for an RSL player - spurred the Utahns on to a 4-1 triumph. The Crew would get their revenge on July 18, as the defending champs scored three unanswered before the hour mark to post a 3-1 victory at Crew Stadium.
Tickets for Saturday's Matinee v. The Crew Now Available, Including $20 KFC Colonel's Corner Vouchers
Tickets for RSL's return to postseason play are available NOW and can be purchased over the phone at (801) 727-2700 or -2702, online at www.RioTintoStadium.com, or in person at the Rio Tinto Stadium Box Office from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Individual tickets to the home playoff match begin at just $15 per seat, while groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets at various discounted rates. Real Salt Lake 2009 Season Ticket holders will have exclusive access to their current seating location until close-of-business on Wednesday; however, they can enjoy access to special season-ticket holder pricing until the day of the game. Season ticket holders can purchase an unlimited amount of playoff seats at the individual game rate.
In addition, the KFC Colonel's Corner will be in full effect in the southeast corner of Rio Tinto Stadium for Saturday's playoff affair, with vouchers for seats in Sections 6 & 7 available this week for only $20! Fans can grab their KFC Colonel's Corner vouchers for Saturday's playoff encounter against Columbus at the following nine KFC locations across the Wasatch Front:
Salt Lake City
555 E. 400 South
2045 S. 1300 East
2435 S. State Street
3890 S. State Street (Harmon's Café)
6890 Highland Drive
Sandy
653 E. 9400 South
10710 S. State Street
Orem
433 N. State Street
West Jordan
1680 W. 9000 South
Tonight's Rocky Mountain Chevy Dealers' RSL Coach's Corner on KALL 700 Sports Heads to Jerry Seiner GM in Salt Lake City
RSL Nation, your last chance to catch the Rocky Mountain Chevy Dealers RSL Coach's Corner on KALL 700 Sports in person comes tonight, when RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis will join "Bill & Spence Show" hosts Bill Riley and Spencer Checketts at Jerry Seiner GM Salt Lake, located at 1530 South 500 West in Salt Lake City, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. MT. There will be plenty for Kreis to go over with Riley & Checketts this evening, including last Saturday's dominant Rocky Mountain Cup-clinching victory over Colorado, the string of events that unfolded to give RSL a second straight berth into the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the upcoming Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the current MLS Supporters Shield holder and defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew. As always, RSL fans are invited to join the trio in person to ask their questions and voice their opinions, while those that can't make it are still encouraged to take part in the show by calling 877-353-0700 or texting 29909. Make sure to tune in next Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., when the Rocky Mountain Chevy Dealers RSL Coach's Corner will originate from the KALL 700 Sports studios.
Striker Tandem of Findley & Movsisyan in the Mix for MLS Goal of the Week Award
After scoring two of the bigger goals for Real Salt Lake this season in last Saturday's 3-0 triumph over the Colorado Rapids, the RSL forward tandem of Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan are among the seven nominees for the final MLS Goal of the Week award of the 2009 regular season. Findley's second goal of the match is under consideration, a 33rd minute finish that saw him run onto MF Andy Williams' 50-yard ball over the Rapids backline and pop the ball up over the an onrushing GK Preston Burpo before calmly finishing with his left foot. Movsisyan's goal to finish the scoring Saturday also made the cut, a right-footed finish to the far left post that ended a 45-yard run from the midfield stripe. To vote for either RSL effort this week, click here or visit MLSnet.com and click on the "MLS Goal of the Week" banner. Fan voting for this week's award ends Wednesday at noon MT.
GK Nick Rimando's Diving Stop up for MLS Save of the Week Honor
Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando apparently saved his best save for last, as his final stop of the regular season from last Saturday's 3-0 win over Colorado is up for the final MLS Save of the Week award of 2009. Rimando stopped all five shots sent his way on Saturday, including a diving, one-handed knock-away three minutes into stoppage time on Facundo Diz's snap-header that preserved his 10th clean sheet of the campaign. To vote for Rimando's parry, click here or visit MLSnet.com and click on the "MLS Save of the Week" banner. Fan voting for this week's honor ends Thursday at noon MT.
Real Salt Lake Team Store Gearing Up for Saturday's Showdown
The Real Salt Lake Team Store at Rio Tinto Stadium would like to thank everyone who participated in last Saturday's "Fan Appreciation Sale," which proved to be a wild success for both the store and RSL Nation alike! The folks at the RSL Team Store were going to take it easy on the specials this week, but after waking up and seeing snow this morning they decided it might be best to just go ahead and make the RSL/adidas scarf for $10 the "Item of the Week." In addition, the RSL Team Store has another trick up its sleeve for the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Leg One against Columbus on Halloween ... but you'll have to check RSL's Behind the Shield blog, located at www.RSLtothecore.com, on Friday afternoon to see what that treat will be.
To see the full range of RSL gear, drop by the RSL Team Store during regular business hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. MT. For more information on the Real Salt Lake Team Store - including the $10 shipping offer, phone orders, autographed and personalized merchandise, and how you can get 25% off all your purchases - call the RSL Merchandise Hotline at 801-727-2888.
FW Robbie Findley Earns RSL's Fourth MLS Player of the Week Honor this Season
Real Salt Lake announced Monday that forward Robbie Findley was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 32, the final week of the League's 2009 regular season. Findley scored two goals last Saturday night in RSL's 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium, a result that clinched a playoff spot for the Utah side for the second straight year. Findley's brace on Saturday night gave the Phoenix-native a new single-season high of 12 goals, eclipsing the mark of eight set during his rookie season in 2007. The dozen tallies also earned Findley his second RSL Golden Boot award as the team's scoring leader and put him in a five-way tie for third place in the chase for the League's scoring title.
This marks the second Player of the Week award for Findley, who also won the honor in Week 10 of the 2008 season. Findley's Player of the Week award was the fourth bestowed to an RSL player in 2009 - alongside MF Javier Morales (Week 6), FW Yura Movsisyan (Week 19), and FW Pablo Campos (Week 24) - tying the Utah club with Colorado, FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC for the most weekly award recipients this season.
MVP Nat Borchers Leads RSL's Season-Ending Award Winners
Real Salt Lake on Saturday unveiled the team's annual season-ending award winners in four categories, which were based on voting by the organization's technical staff and senior management. DF Nat Borchers was recognized as the team's Most Valuable Player, while fellow center back Jamison Olave was named Defensive Player of the Year. Another defender, Robbie Russell, received the squad's annual Humanitarian of the Year honor, while forward Robbie Findley earned the statistically-based "Golden Boot" award by virtue of leading the team with 12 goals during the 2009 regular season.
Real Salt Lake Annual Award Winners by Season
RSL Most Valuable Player: Nat Borchers (2009), Javier Morales (2008), Nick Rimando (2007), Jeff Cunningham (2006), Andy Williams (2005)
RSL Golden Boot: Robbie Findley (2009), Yura Movsisyan (2008), Robbie Findley (2007), Jeff Cunningham (2006), Jason Kreis (2005)
RSL Defender of the Year: Jamison Olave (2009), Nat Borchers (2008), Eddie Pope (2007), Carey Talley (2006), Pope (2005)
RSL Humanitarian of the Year: Robbie Russell (2009), Nat Borchers (2008), Carey Talley (2007), Seth Trembly (2006), Brian Kamler (2005)
Don't Wait 'til Next Year ... 2010 Real Salt Lake Season Ticket Packages on Sale Now!
Real Salt Lake has unveiled its 2010 Season Ticket Package, and whether you're an RSL "Fan for Life" or are looking to purchase season seats for the first time, Real Salt Lake has what you are looking for! Prices for 2010 RSL Season Tickets will offer at least a 20% discount over day-of-game pricing in all general seating areas, with packages starting as low as $275. The 2010 RSL Season Ticket Package will include tickets to 15 MLS regular season contests and five (5) ticket vouchers for designated international exhibition and other cup competitions in addition to numerous additional benefits, including 25% off all items at the RSL Team Store, discounted rates on parking, an invitation to the annual "Meet the Team" event, and much more.
Fans looking to purchase new RSL Season Ticket packages can call 801-727-2700 to lock in their seats for the Claret-and-Cobalt's sixth MLS season. To see the full range of 2010 Season Ticket package options and benefits, click here or visit www.RealSaltLake.com or www.RioTintoStadium.com.
Follow Real Salt Lake through the MLS Cup Playoffs on Your Favorite Social Networking Sites!
Make sure to follow Real Salt Lake's run through the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs through Twitter, Facebook and TXTwire text messaging, where fans can get all the behind-the-scenes news and insider scoop on their favorite MLS side. To follow along with future guest Tweeters and receive exclusive scoops, specials, and promotions on Twitter, Facebook and TXTwire, click on the following links to sign up:
Official Real Salt Lake Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/realsaltlake
Click here for the Official Real Salt Lake Facebook page
Real Salt Lake TXTwire sign-up page: http://www.riotintostadium.com/mobile_alerts.php
