Coaches from junior recreational leagues all the way up to the major international teams have said it for years: a goal scored does not count until you shut your opponent out for at least the next five minutes.
That basic, fundamental truth in soccer is one Real Salt Lake has struggled with all season. Three times this year, Real has given up a goal within minutes of taking a 1-0 lead.
The first time, against FC Dallas, Chris Klein scored the team's first goal of the season in the 36th minute only to have Kenny Cooper tie it up in the 43rd. Two weeks later, Jeff Cunningham scored his first goal of the season in the 57th minute against Houston; but again, the opponent negated the advantage when Craig Waibel made it 1-1 in the 60th minute.
The agonizing trend continued Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jason Kreis scored the first goal of the game in the sixth minute, injecting his team with a full measure of hope for its first victory. But Landon Donovan dashed those hopes just six minutes later after Eddie Pope misplayed a ball right to him in the area.
"It has been happening for the past three games; we are up and then we give up an easy goal, and they end up scoring again," midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy said. "It has been hard for us, and that's one of the points we need to talk about as a team."
According to the veteran Klein, Real has defensive problems throughout the game, not just after going ahead by one. Real has now been outscored 11-5 on the season.
"[Opponents] get too easy of chances," Klein said. "It's not like they are getting half-chances against us, they are getting point blanks, breakaways and one-on-ones where we leave [goalkeeper] Scott [Garlick] out to dry. And that's not a back-four thing, that's an everyone thing not putting pressure on the ball all over the field."
With last Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Galaxy, RSL has now gone winless in a league-record 17 straight games. The disappointing stretch, dating back to August, has left Real in a mental funk.
"The first victory is tough," Klein said. "Especially after you've lost or tied and haven't gotten that win yet, the first victory is tough. I imagine after that, they come a little easier."
Real Salt Lake is now 0-4-1 this year, having earned just one point in a home game against the New York Red Bulls on April 15.
"All along we have said it's tough for us to start with three out of four games on the road," Klein said. "Well, now we're 0-1-1 at home. At some point, we have to throw all the excuses out the window and, home or away, just come out and play."
Pope said the onus is on the players to straighten things out.
"We are now five games in, and I think our coaching staff is doing a good job and we as players have to do our jobs," Pope said. "They can't really do any more. The training sessions are good, they are nice and tough. Now, it is time for us, as players, to pull together and figure out how to get it done on the field, because the coaches can't really do any more."
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
