The overwhelming feeling this morning for Real Salt Lake, their supporters and many MLS fans who had hitched onto their Champions League bandwagon, is that of “major, major disappointment” for “a huge, huge opportunity gone missing.” Those are the exact feelings that Jason Kreis had right after the loss to Monterrey for the CONCACAF crown.
The club manager compares Wednesday night’s decider to the incredible 2008 MLS Western Conference title match against New York and the 2010 playoff draw against FC Dallas. In those games goals did not come for them either despite numerous opportunities.
Missed the game and want to see a snapshot of what happened? Check out this graphical representation of who dominated what phase of Wednesday night’s match.
RSL “needed someone to make a special play” but they didn’t get it. Playmaker Javier Morales felt that the chances missed in the beginning and at the end of the game were backbreakers.
The frustration mounts when thinking of what could have been if captain Kyle Beckerman could have been in the match. Kreis said that the team missed his “energy” but that they still “had a good enough team out there to win.”
But not all is lost. Turns out RSL won many fans in the process, judging by this article garnering reaction from the Salt Lake faithful.
Looking for a chance to see redemption on the international stage by an MLS club? Look no further than this summer with the Emirates Cup, which will see the New York Red Bulls travel to England to face Arsenal and Paris St. Germain. The first match will feature Thierry Henry go up against his former club. And by the way, each goal scored in the tournament gives you a point in the standings.
And the Philadelphia Union will be taking on EPL side Everton on July 20 at PPL Park.
Then there is the next edition of the CONCACAF Champions League to look forward to this summer. MLS could have as many as five teams in the group stage. The two Canadian MLS teams took a major step toward ensuring they are in the competition as they both won on the road in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Wednesday night.
Whitecaps captain Terry Dunfield had a broken nose and a black eye but was still unafraid to head home the only goal of the game in Montreal.
Meanwhile, Toronto FC beat 10-man Edmonton 3-0 to virtually wrap up that semifinal series although manager Aron Winter was still not happy with the play.
The Houston Dynamo hope they can get back to the CONCACAF Champions League after the arrival of the Spanish striker with the Brazilian-sounding name: Koke. He already has the work ethic of a Dominic Kinnear team: coming out to practice just hours after landing in Houston.
Speaking of the Dynamo, they’re going to cover the travel for Pat Onstad’s family members so they can be there when the club honors him as part of the Fox Soccer regular season match against D.C. United this Friday.
After it was first expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Brian Mullan suspension decision may finally come down today. In the meantime, there is one piece of disciplinary news on the Aurelien Collin red card suspension. He’ll be back this weekend.
Find out why Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes feels the team is “trying to climb a mountain” thus far this season. They’re halfway through a 10-game road swing that next takes them to NY on Saturday.
Chivas USA is coming off a road win, their first victory of any kind this season. But one of their goals is mired in controversy ... by players on their own team. It seems that it’s not entirely clear who should be credited with the goal.
While the Goats figure that out, the Chicago Fire are still trying to figure out why they haven’t enjoyed more possession than they’ve had in matches this year. Patrick Nyarko says the players are still trying to put a finger on it.
While teams move around him “like pawns on a chessboard,” Columbus Crew defender Julius James says that he’s in “a better place spiritually” with the Crew in Columbus.
American Clint Dempsey seems to be in a good place himself with two more goals for EPL club Fulham FC on Wednesday. Now no other Cottager has scored more goals than he has in the EPL, including Brian McBride.
Remember Jeff Cooper, the man behind the bid to land an MLS team in St. Louis? He’s in court trying to recover millions of dollars from someone else who was reportedly set to take over the club.
Even though Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League may have already determined the answer, the best response to the question “Who’s better: Ronaldo or Messi?” comes from one man who says: “I am.” Find out who.
Talented players are getting signed up by clubs at younger and younger ages. VVV Venlo in Holland has snapped up the signature of an 18-month-old phenom. Yes, that’s MONTHS, not years. Here's the video showing what the kid can do. (VIDEO)
MLSsoccer.com Must-Reads:
San Jose Earthquakes seeking answers in players-only meeting held this week
Climbing The Ladder: Teams know how to punish their opponents who go down to red cards
Portland hope new central midfield combo could help spark team vs. Real Salt Lake
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