Real Salt Lake 3-1 SJ Earthquakes

Saturday May 31st, 2008
MLS - Match 9

Rice Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake, UT

Attendance: 15,977

Saturday May 31, 2008

Both teams wanted to leave the last position of the league to the other tonight. The Earthquakes also needed to erase the awful memory of their last trip to Salt Lake in April (US Open Cup Play-in match, 4-0 loss and two players injured).

With a penalty conceded in the first minute, it may be difficult to say, but yes, the Earthquakes started well. After this controversial initial penalty given to Salt Lake for a hand ball by Joe Vide and missed by Javier Morales, the Quakes dominated the first 20 minute, being more aggressive and playing in Salt Lake's half most of the time. Ramiro Corrales, Shea Salinas and Ryan Johnson were the most active players for the Quakes. However, they seemed to be disturbed by the funny bounce and the speed the ball was taking on the quick turf surface at Rice Eccles Stadium and never really managed to threaten the Real.

At this point, Salt Lake seemed to be in permanent difficulty and not a lot of their fans would have bet on a victory, but as soon as the Earthquakes reduced their pressure, things started to change and in the last 15 minutes of the first half, without being brilliant, the locals created 2 great opportunities, saved by Joe Cannon and his post (36th and 45+1).

It is also during this period that the Quakes created their best chance of the half, when Salinas stole a ball at the edge of the box but his shot was stopped by Nick Rimando (41st).

But the good period had passed and in the second half, Javier Morales and Robbie Findley (who replaced Fabian Espindola just before the break) offered a superb show to their fans, helped by the Quakes' midfielder who seemed to have totally disappeared.

The first goal came after Morales sent a long ball to the left wing to Findley. Facing Jason Hernandez, the forward, dribbled to the inside and took a powerful low shot with his right foot at the near post. Cannon's dive wasn't enough (1-0, 48th).

12 minutes later, Morales perfectly combined with Findley and was at the conclusion of the move to put the ball between Cannon's leg (2-0, 60th)

Then, Morales again sent a beautiful ball deep in Andy Williams' run. Nick Garcia had to use his left arm to block Williams who immediately fell. Mr. Gonzales, for the second time tonight, did not hesitate and called a penalty for Real Salt Lake. To prove he was sure his decision was right, he also showed an unnecessary yellow card to Garcia. Dema Kovalenko placed the ball exactly where Morales did in the first half but this time, Cannon chose the other side (3-0, 73rd)

The Earthquakes finally managed to show something better in the end of the game and even reduced the gap at the 84th minute. Nick Garcia won a challenge in the center of the field, passed the ball forward to Corrales. Corrales' heel deflection for Cunliffe was perfect and the forward who replaced Kirovski 10 minutes earlier didn't miss the opportunity (3-1, 84th)

The move was beautiful and the finish perfect, but it came too late.

Thierry Heumann (email)

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Goals:

RSL: Robbie Findley (48th, Assist: Javier Morales), Javier Morales (60th, Assist: Robbie Findley), Dema Kovalenko (73rd, penalty)

SJE: John Cunliffe (84th, Assist: Ramiro Corrales)

Officials: Jorge Gonzalez - Assistants: Paul Scott, Frank Anderson - 4th: Tyler Ploeger

Attendance: 15,977

Yellow cards: 

RSL: Kenny Deuchar (Reckless Foul, 81st)

SJE: Ramiro Corrales (Reckless Foul, 45+1), Jason Hernandez (Reckless foul, 61st), Nick Garcia (Professional Foul, 72nd)

Lineups:

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