SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake (3-9-3, 13 pts., 5th West) resumes training on Wednesday, July 6 in preparation for its game against expansion brethren CD Chivas USA (1-13-3, 6 pts., 6th West) at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, July 9, at 8:00 p.m. MT, live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
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Real Salt Lake is riding high after being a man down in a come-from-behind 2-2 tie against the MetroStars at home yesterday, completing the series with two ties and two points. The team's first-ever clean sheet and only road point came in the 0-0 draw at the Meadowlands against the MetroStars in the team's inaugural game under typhoon like conditions.
On May 7, during Week Six, RSL faced CD Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in hopes of getting its first road win of the season. The game's only goal was scored by CD Chivas USA after a controversial handball call on RSL MF Marlon Rojas, giving Chivas' MF Hector Cuadros a penalty kick, which he converted in the 39th minute.
Real Salt Lake sustained multiple injuries during the 1-0 loss, including the 82nd minute departure of GK DJ Countess to a left shoulder subluxation, which forced him to miss the Los Angeles Galaxy game on Saturday, and a 30th-minute injury to MF Clint Mathis (lower back contusion). Added to the loss of the two starters was MF Brian Kamler's insertion as RSL's goalkeeper for the last eight minutes after the injury to Countess forced the team to play with only ten players.
RSL tied the series with Chivas USA on May 18 at Rice-Eccles in a 2-0 victory when MF Chris Brown dribbled the ball into the box dealing a pass to MF Andy Williams who rocketed a shot into the upper corner for his first goal of the season in the 37th minute.
Just two minutes later it was two former Colorado Rapids players - MF Seth Trembly and FW Jordan Cila - hooking up to give Real a two-goal advantage when Cila played a ball into the box for a charging Trembly who slotted the ball in the near post in the 39th minute. The home side hit Chivas on the counterattack and Jordan Cila took the ball deep into the corner before dishing to Trembly.
KREIS CONTINUES HUNT FOR CENTURY MARK: RSL MF Jason Kreis, Major League Soccer's All-Time Leading Scorer, advanced one goal closer to the career century mark on Monday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, when MF Clint Mathis lofted a ball into the box for Kreis who went up to play the ball and was knocked to the ground by MetroStars DF Carlos Mendes. Kreis lined up for his own spot kick with the potential tying goal on the line, and after taking a moment to regain his wind, he buried the ball just inside the post to tie the game scoring goal No. 97 in the 90th minute.
TREMBLY PROVIDING SPARK FOR RSL: RSL MF Seth Trembly is one of only two Real players to score two or more goals this season. Trembly has provided a lift to the offense scoring two goals in nine games with only three starts. Real was down by two goals and a man before Trembly was substituted in for DF Brian Kamler in the 76th minute against the MetroStars. Just three minutes later, the Colorado native gave RSL its first goal of the game when Trembly turned just outside the top corner of the penalty area, firing a bending shot through the MetroStars defense, off the fingertips of MetroStars GK Zach Wells and into the back of the net.
Trembly's first goal was in his starting debut against CD Chivas USA on May 18. FW Jordan Cila whipped a ball into the box to the near post for a streaking Trembly who slotted the ball in past 'keeper Brad Guzan in the 39th minute. The two goals for RSL doubles his MLS scoring total and marks the most goals that Trembly has scored in a single season.
CENTRAL DEFENSE MISSING KEY PLAYERS: RSL DF Eddie Pope is with the U.S. Men's National Team in Seattle, Wash. preparing for its first Gold Cup game against Cuba on Thursday, July 7 at Qwest Field in Seattle at 8:30 p.m. MT, live on Telefutura. The USMNT will hold one final training session tomorrow afternoon at Qwest Field in advance of the opening match. MF Andy Williams departed today to join the Jamaican National Team in Los Angeles, Calif. in preparation for its first Gold Cup match against Guatemala at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Friday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m. MT. DF Brian Dunseth made his return to the starting lineup against the MetroStars after missing three games only to pick up his first career red card, incurring a one-game suspension for the expansion battle on Saturday, July 9. RSL will also be without DF Rustin Pierce who aggravated a hamstring injury in the 14th minute against the MetroStars on Monday.
PLAYER GAMES LOST TO INJURY (15)
Brian Dunseth (4/2 @ MET, 4/9 @ LA, 6/18 @ SJ, 6/22 vs. LA, 6/26 @ CHI)
Andy Williams (4/16 vs. COL, 4/23 @ DAL)
Brian Kamler (4/30 @ DAL)
Rustin Pierce (5/7 @ CHV, 6/11 @ LA, 6/18 @ SJ, 6/22 vs. LA, 6/26 @ CHI)
DJ Countess (5/14 vs. LA)
Paul Broome (7/4 vs. MET)
PLAYER GAMES LOST TO SUSPENSION (3)
Eddie Pope (4/30 vs. SJ)
Jason Kreis (5/18 vs. CHV)
Nelson Akwari (5/28 vs. CHI)
PLAYER GAMES LOST TO INTERNATIONAL DUTY (9)
Tiger Fitzpatrick (5/18 vs. CHV, 6/4 vs. FCD)
Marlon Rojas (5/18 vs. CHV, 6/4 vs. FCD)
Eddie Pope (5/28 vs. CHI, 6/4 vs. FCD, 7/4 vs. MET)
Dipsy Selolwane (6/4 vs. FCD)
Andy Williams (7/9 @ CHV)
TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR WEEK OF July 3, 2005:
**All practices are open to Media members. All times and locations are subject to change.
DAY/DATE SITE TIME (MT)
Wednesday, July 6 Rice-Eccles Stadium 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, July 7 Rice-Eccles Stadium 10:00 a.m.
Friday, July 8 TRAVEL to Los Angeles 10:15 a.m.
Saturday, July 9 GAME @ CD Chivas USA 8:30 p.m.
@ The Home Depot Center
RSL INJURY/ SUSPENSION/ NATIONAL TEAM DUTY REPORT:
PLAYER STATUS INJURY
DF Rustin Pierce OUT R hamstring strain
DF Paul Broome OUT L ankle sprain
DF Brian Dunseth OUT Red card suspension
DF Eddie Pope OUT USMNT Camp
COUNTDOWN TO PIONEER DAY SUMMER SOCCER EXPLOSION: Real Salt Lake invites the Utah community to experience the final fireworks extravaganza when RSL matches up against the Western Conference leaders FC Dallas on Pioneer Day, Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. MT. The night will be filled with world-class soccer and Utah's most spectacular fireworks show.. Ticket prices for the fireworks extravaganza is $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west, and can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Rice-Eccles Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Groups of 20 or more should contact Real Salt Lake by calling (866) 9-SOCCER.
JOIN THE JUNIOR LOYALISTS: RSL invites local youth fans ages 14 and under to join the RSL Kids Club, known as the Chevron Junior Loyalists! The next replica giveaway will be on Saturday, August 13 where registered Jr. Loyalist members will receive FREE replica Real Salt Lake socks and shinguards! Kids 14 and under can sign-up to be a Jr. Loyalist at more than 90 participating Chevron locations along the Wasatch Front. The Kansas City Wizards game represents the third of five Junior Loyalist "build-a-uniform" dates, with the other RSL memorabilia nights as follows:
DAY/DATE GIVEAWAY
Saturday, Aug. 13 Replica socks / shinguards
Saturday, Sept. 3 RSL soccer ball
Saturday, Sept. 24 RSL uniform bag
Pick up a registration form at any of the more than 90 Wasatch Front Chevron locations!
VOTING FOR 2005 MLS ALL-STAR GAME NEARING END ON MLSNET.COM: Fans can now cast their votes for the MLS All-Stars who will take the field against English Premier League club Fulham FC in the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. On July 30, "MLS All-Stars Take on the World" as Major League Soccer's best take on Fulham FC at Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH in a game televised nationally on ABC Sports (1:30 p.m. MT). Fans can vote for the starting XI by filling out the online ballot on the League's official website www.MLSnet.com until Friday, July 8, 2005. Fans can vote for 11 starting players from a pool of 144 total candidates via the online ballot - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. A maximum of 10 ballots may be submitted per person per day and there are no limits on how many days fans can vote. The online fan balloting will comprise 25 percent of the total, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent) and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. The following eight RSL players are under consideration for the midseason game:
POSITION PLAYER
GK DJ Countess
DF Eddie Pope
DF Brian Dunseth
DF Rustin Pierce
MF Chris Brown
MF Brian Kamler
MF Clint Mathis
MF Andy Williams
FW Jason Kreis
FW Dipsy Selolwane
GET YOUR FLEX ON WITH ONLY REMAINING SEASON TICKET OPTION: RSL's Flex Season Ticket Package is comprised of 20 vouchers in the same price category (North Goal, Corner Flag, Premium and VIP) that allows the purchaser to determine which games they would like to see in the regular season and how many tickets needed for that game. Prices for the 2005 Flex Package are $260 for the North Goal, $320 for the Corner Flag, $440 for the East Sideline and $560 for the VIP seats. Tickets can be redeemed in the following way: one could use all the vouchers and bring 20 people to one game or 4 people could attend five games. Flex vouchers are significantly discounted from day of game pricing, making it an even greater value. Vouchers can be redeemed in advance through the Real Salt Lake Front Office by mail or in person or on the day of the game at the Real Salt Lake Customer Service Window. Seating is best available per price category at the time of redemption.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE: Real Salt Lake single-game tickets for its inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium continue to be on sale both online and at the University of Utah Ticket Office, located at the Stadium's south end. Individual game prices are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west. Individual game tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, by logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Fans are continued to be encouraged to purchase in advance.
ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter at the fans section of RealSaltLake.com.
REAL ELITE TRAINING PROGRAM: The Real Elite Training Program is a progressive summer training program for boys and girls ages 8-16 with previous playing experience and a strong desire to reach their maximum potential. There are a total of 20 sessions, three days a week and two hours per day. The benefits of the program include: exposure to the highest level of training; specializing in technique, tactic, fitness and teamwork; training from RSL soccer players and coaches; and adidas training shirts and ticket voucher to a select game. For more information, contact Teresa Nelson by phone at (801) 924-8565, by email at tnelson@RealSaltLake.com or by logging onto http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/player_development/.
MLS CAMPS: MLS Camps, the Official Camp and Clinic of Major League Soccer, has partnered with Real Salt Lake to provide Packaged Camps, Clinic & Training Services and Supply Opportunities to the Greater Utah Community. To host a Program in your community, call (800) 680-6272 or by logging onto www.MLScamps.com and register for a program near you.
