After getting Jason Kreis on the scorebooks with a pair of goals 11 minutes apart in the first half, Real Salt Lake seemed to have found the magic again in their second home match.
But as is often the case, the team who controls the game doesn't always take home the victory, and the San Jose Earthquakes saw a late goal from Alejandro Moreno leave the two teams sharing a 2-2 draw.
"The last 45 minutes of the game we were two passive," said a frustrated Rusty Pierce. "If you sit back too long they are going to score."
After settling for the 2-2 tie the overall feeling in the RSL locker room was one of disappointment and frustration.
"More than allowing that second goal, we didn't play well in the second half," said Kreis. "We have a lot of fantastic players who haven't played together. I guess it is going to take us some time"
Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger game out with a different look after last week's 3-0 drubbing at the hands of FC Dallas. Kreis was sent out as a lone striker with Andy Williams and Clint Mathis in playmaking midfield roles in a 4-5-1 formation.
Real hoped to take the upper hand in the middle portion of the field, where they had struggled. After giving up a quick goal, the new formation came together and Real started to look dangerous.
"Having the extra man in the middle definitely helped us," said Mathis. "I think we were definitely the better team tonight."
The two Kreis goals seemed to send Real on their way, until the Earthquakes again saw some late heroics that have been a constant this season. This time they were on delivering side.
"We've just got to put together a good 90 minutes," said goalkeeper. D.J Countess.
David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
