9/29 RSL @ New York

A tie. A measly tie. Yes, RSL was outplayed for much of the match, but they also led for much of it, and NY's second goal came on an iffy at best PK call. This is one of those ties that feels like a loss. On with the review...

As the lineups were announced pre-game, two things stuck out at me: 1) Chris Brown, Yura Movsisyan, and Alecko Eskandarian were all in the lineup ahead of Robbie Findley. Did Robbie kill JK's dog or something? He's only our leading goalscorer, I can see why he's sitting...sigh... 2) Forko was not only playing but starting!!! (insert obligatory "Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?" joke here) I thought perhaps he had died. Nice to see him back on the pitch. One other realization hit me before the game even started: those white Red Bull jerseys have to be the tackiest things I have ever seen. Those are just atrocious uniforms. The color scheme is ugly and they just look bad. Something I'd expect a U-10 team to be wearing. Blech.

As the game started, RSL came out swinging...and missing. They looked AWFUL early and the defense was nonexistent. Lucky for the boys in Red, NY's finishing was poor. I'm convinced Kovalenko couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from 6 inches. He had 2 terrible misses in the first 14 minutes alone. In addition, no one for RSL was getting forward. It was looking to be a long night. Then in the 22nd min., completely out of the blue, RSL pushed some people forward into the box. Wingert hit an absolutely perfect cross to Chris Brown who headed it into the turf and into the goal. What Waterreus was doing on this play I have no idea. He seemed surprised that RSL was actually shooting. Bam! 1-0 RSL, totally against the run of play. The next 10-15 minutes were totally different. RSL played wth some poise and passion and controlled the run of play. Movsisyan was gifted a goal in the 37th, but decided to return it, missing the ball completely on an open net. Was it a tough bounce? Yes. Does a professional striker need to at least get a foot on it? Again, yes. Still 1-0. After this the game went back to the Uglykits for the rest of the half, especially with some questionable decision making (notably Talley) for RSL leading to attacks. Some nice Rimando saves kept RSL afloat. Half score: 1-0 RSL
Half grade: C
RSL played well in spurts, but in truth were flattered by the scoreline. Talley had some iffy moments and Forko looked understandably rusty. Overall, a quick, fast-paced, entertaining first half.

The second half started much as the first, with some poor defending (and especially clearances) leading to Uglykit chances. However, this time, NY finished. Doe took a nice flick from Angel and went one-on-one with "Gimme a card, now!" Mantilla and proceeded to slice and dice him. Or as they say on the playground, he broke Mantilla's ankles. Doe juked Mantilla out of the play and precisely put it far corner past Rimando. Pretty goal. 1-1, 49th minute. The goal energized the Uglykits and their fans and they took control of this game. It didn't help that no one for RSL was getting forward, a consistent problem throughout the year. In relation, the old RSL trick of getting 3/4 of the way up the field and then sputtering out came back. This is partially a byproduct of no one getting forward. Also, the midfielders were playing scared. No holding possession, no trying to advance with the ball. As soon as they touched it, it was a long ball over the top to no one (especially Williams). It was getting ugly. In my notes, I even wrote: "55[th minute] RSL looks bad-need some fresh blood". Finally, in the 60th, Kreis made a change bringing on Espindola for Chris Brown. In the words of Jimmy King, "Praise Him, and all His mercies." I would have liked to see Findley here, but Espindola has played pretty decent and I was glad to see Brown come off (he was non-existent other than the goal). It helped slightly, but RSL was still getting beat handily. The defense was pretty bad, forcing Rimando into some nice saves. Williams was terrible and a liability. Talley continued his bad form in the 72nd by getting beat by Kovalenko on a play that led to a big Uglykit attack that ended with a possible PK not being called on Forko (remember this, it comes back soon). Dumb play by Forko, like I said, he looked rusty. Right after the play we had another RSL sub, Atiba for Williams. Again, cue Jimmy King (for those who don't know, that's a reference to the movie "Ready to Rumble," which is much better and much funnier than it has any right to be). Williams had a bad game, pure and simple. This, combined with the Reyna injury and sub in the 58th minute, finally seemed to be enough to spark RSL. They immediately went up field, got people forward (see what happens?) and scored. Esky put a beauty of a ball through to Espi(ndola), who ran free from the left side into the box, drew the defense, and then passed to a wide open Beckerman dead center in front of the goal (maybe 4 yards out at most) who calmly one-timed it past Waterreus for an easy, yet beautiful team goal. 2-1 RSL, 75th min. New York immediately came back to try and even it up. Mathis got a ball similar to Movsisyan's early in the game and did get a foot on it, luckily, RSL had the play better defended and although Nick came out and dove and missed the ball, Mantilla was there to save it off the line. Chaos ensued with Rimando again coming off his line and Mantilla AGAIN saving a ball off the goal line. RSL was lucky to escape unharmed. Then, IT happened. RSL was called for a phantom PK (I'm still not sure who it was or where the penalty supposedly happened), presumably as a "make up" call for the first. Honestly, refs who call "make up" calls need to not be refs any more (this applies for all sports). If it was a PK on the first play, fine, then CALL IT. You didn't, so it wasn't so don't penalize us later on because you didn't blow the whistle. You didn't blow it, that call is final. Move on. Make up calls are ridiculous. Anyway, Angel hit an absolutely picture perfect PK. Tie game, 2-2. Soon after, JK finally decided it was time to bring in Findley (and only about 81 minutes too late!) for Movsisyan. Movs played hard, but was hamstrung by the refs picking on him all night. Just because he's big doesn't mean he fouls people just by walking by them, but you'd never know it watching this one. RSL played with some spark the rest of the way out and at least played even, if not a bit better than the Uglykits. An ugly foul by Angel on Esky in the 83rd drew a yellow, although at first (and even second) look, it definitely could have been a red. Angel had no chance to get the ball and flew in completely reckless. But Esky's yell on the takedown seemed to be worse than the damage sustained and he was able to finish. In the 85th minute, RSL had a chance to take the lead again as Beckerman ran into the box from the right side (a near mirror image of the Espi run), but this time no one came forward in support-unfortunately, he didn't have himself at the spot to pass to-and the play fizzled out. An easy chance goes unfulfilled by some lazy play by RSL up top. In the 86th, Espindola made a nice run, getting a one-on-one with Waterreus which he promptly choked on and kicked directly into the sliding keeper. Another easy chance goes begging. The 88th saw Atiba Harris get a free header on a corner only to see him put it about 5 feet wide. Those are the kinds of things RSL needs to fix to turn this team around next year. If you have a free header in front of net, at least get it on frame, boys! RSL played decent the rest of the half (including a nice steal by Becks at midfield that led to one last RSL push), but didn't have enough to pull out what could (and probably should) have been a win. Final score: 2-2
Half grade: C
This half had two parts, the first part where RSL was AWFUL and the second part where they looked good and should have won. I guess that's why it was a tie.

Pros:
-Nice to see Willis back on the pitch.
-The hustle oftentimes displayed by Movsisyan.
-Both goals were nice, and there were other attacks where RSL looked like a pro squad.
-RSL didn't collapse after the PK
-Beckerman for Ballouchy. I will love this trade forever.

Cons:
-That PK was putrid.
-Movsisyan being unable to really play because of fouls being called every time he got near the ball.
-Williams and Talley for much of the match.
-The outside and midfield defending left much to be desired.
-RSL now mathematically eliminated from playoffs. Although a pro in that we don't have to hear about RSL's "playoff hopes" any more. I love RSL but let's be realistic, RSL's playoff hopes were dead right around the time they hadn't won a game until late June!
-Something about Max Bretos just annoyed me throughout the game.

Game grade: C
A C plus a C equals a C! ha ha! RSL showed flashes of brilliance but needs to play better over 90 minutes.

Player grades:
Nick Rimando-6 Solid game, but not the superhuman effort we almost expect now
Eddie Pope-6 Solid but quiet
Willis Forko-5 Looked OK, but was definitely rusty after being out so long
Matias Mantilla-6 Marked down for the goal, but the two saves redeemed him
Chris Wingert-6 Got beat a few times, but his cross made the first goal
Carey Talley-4 Played OK, but WAY too many mistakes/mental errors
Andy Williams-3 Did he play? Really?
sub(Atiba Harris 74)-5 Active but missed that gift header
Kyle Beckerman-8 Disappeared early 2nd half, but came back with a vengeance
Yura Movsisyan-6 Hustled, but bad touch and tough refs held him back
sub(Robbie Findley 81)-6 Made a nice run or two, not much time to do anything though
Chris Brown-6 Bonus point for the goal, otherwise non-existent
sub(Fabian Espindola 61)-7 MOTM if he finishes the 1-on-1
Alecko Eskandarian-7 Up and down game, but played some defense and made some nice passes

Man of the Match: Kyle Beckerman

Assclown of the match: I didn't want to do it and was looking for (and possibly had) someone else but with the make up call, referee Alex Prus, you earned it buddy!