Game 4: Real Salt Lake @ Toronto FC

So I just went through the game again (although it was on fast forward again, this time I paid better attention). I also looked back over my first impressions and realized that that all basically still stands, so this review will be pretty short as I went over a lot in that other post.

First off, what in the hell is with all the streamers in Toronto? Did someone hijack a semi full of streamers and drive it to BMO Field? Seriously, that was a bit, ok, a LOT, out of hand. Folks, let's start stocking up on streamers now and when TFC comes to town absolutely annihilate their players with paper while they attempt free kicks. I swear I thought Javi was going to drown in a paper deluge while sending in a couple of those corners.

Anyway, what a terrible first half by RSL. There's been a lot of talk of pushing the action and being a possession team, but this looked like the RSL of old. Back on their heels, sending worthless long ball after worthless long ball forward. To make matters worse, both Deuchar and Findley spent long stretches of time playing so deep, you'd think they were playing defensive mid. Not good, not good at all. At least Jason Kreis owned up to it, saying "I think we came out tactically and played that game a little bit wrong, to be honest. The coaching staff takes full responsibility for that. We were sitting back when perhaps we should've pressed them from minute one, which is the tactic we took up in the second half." (Thanks to MLSnet and James Edward) Well duh, Jason. You want to press teams and try to score goals and make them work rather than sitting back and letting attack wave after attack wave come at you? I'd have never guessed. I guess that's why he makes the big bucks... Honestly, RSL was lucky to escape that first half down only 1-0.

Half grade: D-

The second half was a lot better with RSL cutting down on the number of long balls and working on keeping some possession. They actually outplayed TFC this half (by a bit of a margin as well), but were hit with the most common of RSL's ailments: a complete and total lack of finishing. First in the 47th, there was the scrum off of a Morales corner kick where I think every RSL player (and maybe some RSL fans as well) got a foot on the ball in the 18, but no one came close to putting it away. This sequence led to a series of approximately 1,342 corner kicks in a row for RSL, out of which they did something positive with exactly 0 of these. In RSL's defense, a lot of these corners were not that good, although Morales can be partially forgiven for that as he was being blinded by the world's supply of streamers while trying to send the balls in. Then in the 67th, RSL had another great chance when Dema Kovalenko, wide open in the 18, had a ball fall to him and hit a volley to...Montreal. Whoops. He was open enough to settle the ball and then shoot for an easy goal, but the rush job led to the choke of the week. RSL probably would have finally broken through in the 73rd when Findley fought through a foul, got the ball to the corner of the 18 and the end line and had a wide open passing lane to multiple RSL players directly in front on net. But the ref inexplicably did not let RSL play the advantage, setting up a free kick that went nowhere. Thanks ref! There were other instances of RSL's ineptitude in front of net (see: corner kick to Williams at the top of the box where he puts in 50 feet over the goal), but I'm not trying to write "War and Peace" here. All in all, RSL outplayed TFC, but in usual RSL fashion were unable to get the equalizer. On a side note, it was strange to see RSL actually play better when they replaced Joy with Williams and went to a 3-5-2. They really seemed to take control at that point. It's good to know RSL can play different formations if need be. Final score: 1-0 TFC

Half grade: B-

Pros:
-Much improved 2nd half.
-3 man backline of Mantilla, Borchers, and Wingert looks capable if needed.
-Findley looked a lot better this game than he has.
-Morales is very steady and solid of free kicks.

Cons:
-The first half.
-Streamer death.
-Joy with another poor game.
-Sturgis's injury.
-Espindola was hurt and didn't play.
-TOO MANY LONG BALLS.
-The lack of finishing.
-The not given advantage call.
-The magical 3 minutes of stoppage time that lasts 1:45

Game grade: D+
Can't give a much higher grade for a game where they go scoreless and look overwhelmed for 45 minutes of the match. They better turn this around before next week!

Player grades:
Nick Rimando-7 Solid game, held off some TFC attacks
Ian Joy-4 Seemed lost again
(Andy Williams 62)-5 OK, some decent balls, some awful ones
Matias Mantilla-6 A couple minor mistakes, but solid
Chris Wingert-8 Saved RSL's bacon on a few breakaways
Nat Borchers-7 Quiet and solid as he has been all year
Kyle Beckerman-5 Not enough from the cap'n
Dema Kovalenko-5 On again, off again kind of game
(Yura Movsisyan 79)-5 Didn't have time to do much, and didn't
Nathan Sturgis-6 Decent, but in limited time
(Carey Talley 27)-5 Not a bad game, not a good game
Javier Morales-4 Other than a few nice free kicks, didn't show much
Kenny Deuchar-5 Needs to start finishing some of these headers
Robbie Findley-6 Active, but playing too deep

RSL Man of the Match:
Chris Wingert - Yes, he had an error or two, but his game-saving stops on counter attacks were golden. Without Wingert, this game ends 3-0. Well played Chris!

Assclown of the Match:
Is there any doubt? The whole refereeing crew wins the day here! Start with the not given advantage play that would have been RSL's best scoring chance and add a dash of showing 3 minutes of stoppage time while giving less than two. Bake at 400 degrees for 90 minutes and voila! You win Assclown of the Match!