8/18/07 Chicago @ RSL

So I recorded the game (after having slept through it after a hellish 2 days at work), watched it on Sunday, took extensive notes, and was all ready to blow your minds with an insightful, well-reasoned and thoughtful post. Well, as close as I can get anyway... But then life got in the way. I have had a busy week, capped by this winning development on Tuesday:

Everyone is fine, but needless to say I haven't been thinking much about reviewing the latest RSL debacle. So instead of a great post, I will just skim the notes and try and give a decent mini-review. But never fear, I am hoping to get back on track with the ol' RR, and have many things in the works (like the long-promised pics from the Houston game). And off we go!

Ah yes, after RSL played a good game in defeating Houston I began to wonder what had happened to the real players on the team (that obviously wasn't them against Houston, but talented soccer-playing dopplegangers). No worries, they were back last Saturday to play Chicago. RSL came out looking ok (I guess), but never dominated in the first half. Fortunately for RSL fans, Chicago played a pretty awful half and allowed RSL to play even. The best scoring chance of the half came in the 17th minute when Findley somehow stretched his toe and poked a shot on goal, only to be denied by the post. True RSL luck. Of course, sometimes you need to make your own luck and Findley certainly didn't. Instead of following the play after he shot, he assumed it was in and gave up on the play. Had he followed up on the shot he had a gimme goal as he had the defender beaten and the goalie out of the play. Nevertheless, this kept the game scoreless for now. The rest of the half was mediocre at best from both sides with lots of turnovers and not much offense. The kind of game that soccer haters would use to point out how "boring" soccer is (a 3 second play followed by a minute of standing around....now THAT'S excitement, but I digress). Then in the 43rd minute, out of absolutely nowhere, Cuauhtemoc Blanco showed why he makes the big bucks by hitting an absolute scorcher of a goal from distance and off a bounce. GREAT goal. I do have one question about it, though. The TV coverage was awful so I'm not sure how the Fire had the ball. We had an RSL throw (as far as they showed), they went to a short replay, and suddenly Chicago has a throw-in that leads directly to the goal. How did Chicago get a throw-in call that fast??? Anyone? Anyway, RSL goes into the half down 1-0 in a game that, honestly, neither team deserved to have a lead in. But, that is RSL's luck for you.
Half grade: D

The second half was much like the first, drab and ugly. Chicago played slightly better in this half and RSL never looked all that dangerous until the 76th minute when new signing Espindola was denied on not one but two straight shots in the penalty area. He's fitting in already!!! Seriously, my fat ass could have scored there. Just putrid. Soon after, Paulo Wanchope headed home a Blanco corner (after running over Pope and pushing Talley away, but, you know, that's not a foul) to put the game away at 2-0. RSL's Atiba Harris had a good chance to pull one back in the 89th where he basically had a one on one with the goalie, but he stumbled and the ball rolled harmlessly to the keeper. Game. Set. Match. Chicago.
Half grade: D-

Pros:
-Atiba at least looked dangerous once in a while.
-Esky got back on the field.
-We got to see one of the "Argentine 3"

Cons:
-The long ball game plan. It rarely works (see RSL's record for proof).
-The refereeing was terrible as usual.
-The general ineptitude of RSL.
-This was Beckerman's worst game in an RSL uni by far.
-The TV coverage. Don't show replays and bench closeups when plays are developing!!! AGH!!!

Game grade: D-
Chicago played a pretty uneven, pretty bad game and still beat RSL 2-0. Shouldn't, at some point, we have a pretty good homefield advantage, what with the altitude and the fact that we regularly play on the turf while others see it once a year here? Guess not.

Player grades:
Nick Rimando-6 Up and down night, some great plays; terribly out of position on the 2nd goal
Jean-Martial Kipre-5 OK, but most runs and plays went nowhere
sub(Chris Brown 78)-4 Did he play in this one? Didn't hear his name called once.
Ritchie Kotschau-7 Possibly his best game for RSL. A surprise bright spot.
Eddie Pope-6 A pretty mediocre game for him.
Chris Wingert-5 See Kipre
Kyle Beckerman-4 Seemed absent from the game, played a bit dirty
Nathan Sturgis-5 OK game, injured early
sub(Atiba Harris 33)-5 Had some moments, but HAS to finish that play in the 89th
Carey Talley-4 Pretty invisible as well, beaten physically on 2nd goal
Andy Williams-4 Little effort, can't seem to handle 90 minutes
Robbie Findley-6 Up and down game
Alecko Eskandarian-4 I like Esky, but he needs to give us more that THAT
(Fabian Espindola 58)-5 Made some nice runs, but the inability to finish brought him down

RSL Man of the Match: I can't believe I'm going to say this but it's Ritchie "Red Card" Kotschau!

Assclown of the match: (tie) the refs, just as uneven and unpredictable as usual AND Dasan Robinson, he seemed to be doing a lot of dirty play off (and on) the ball. Something about him just grated on me in this game...