SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger today announced the acquisition of striker Melvin Tarley, a Liberian-born forward who has scored six goals in three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Games for the giant-slaying Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division). In order to clear roster space for today's acquisition, RSL placed DF Matt Behncke on waivers. Behncke appeared in eight RSL games this season, starting seven and logging a total of 587 minutes for the senior team.
Tarley, a 22-year old forward who stands at 6-1, 175, found the back of the net twice in the Thunder's 6-4 win over Real Salt Lake on July 13 and tallied all four Thunder goals in the team's 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on August 3. Tarley started and played 88 minutes in Minnesota's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards on August 24, advancing the USL First Division squad to the Open Cup Semifinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy on September 14.</p>
"One of the best ways to evaluate players is to view them playing against your own team, and Melvin Tarley displayed his abilities against us in the third round of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup," Ellinger said. "He is somebody we felt that we should immediately add to our roster. Tarley is a forward that has good pace, great size and holds the ball well, and we welcome him as we make our push for a playoff berth."</p>
As part of the transfer, RSL and Minnesota have agreed that Tarley will be available to return to his former team for its 2005 U.S. Open Cup semifinal game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Should Minnesota advance to the final, Tarley will be available for his former team for the 2005 U.S. Open Cup finals.
Tarley began his career with the Thunder during the 2003 season and logged just 400 minutes during his rookie season, scoring once in 16 appearances. The speedy forward led Minnesota with eight goals during the 2004 season, while playing 1,313 minutes in 24 games. Tarley has a "green card" and will not count as one of RSL's international players.
"Any player who can score 10 goals in a month has some special talent," Pastorino said, noting that the striker has scored seven goals in 25 regular-season games this year, in addition to his outstanding Open Cup performances. "Melvin Tarley has really grown as a player and a person with the Minnesota Thunder, and we feel he is ready to take his game to the next level."</p>
The Liberian native was the youngest player in his country's history to make 12 appearances for U-21 National team, a feat he accomplished at the age of 14. In 2002, Tarley recorded 22 goals and 27 assists in 14 games with his amateur team, Alliance FC. One year later, he joined the Thunder, and after an adjustment period, led the Thunder in goals (8) and assists (17) in the 24 games played during his second season with the team.
"Being picked up by Real Salt Lake means a whole lot to me because I have been training to get into the MLS, especially with a new team," Tarley said. "I am willing to do what I have been doing with the Minnesota Thunder, which is score goals, and along with my new teammates from RSL, I hope to make playoffs. I am excited and can't wait to play my first game in a Real uniform."
