It's been awhile since I've blogged about RSL. Not really because of that bad patch we were in, but because with the start of the EPL Season and the transfer window drama, I just haven't been paying too much attention to MLS. With tonight's victory against the Union, RSL has strung together back to back gritty wins against both Chivas USA and Philly, both of which are sides that play solid defense and have great 'keepers.
This one was always going to be a tough one for RSL, they had a lot of players out. Alvarez with El Salvador, Will Johnson with Canada, Jean Alexandre with Haiti, Nat Borchers with a suspension, Chris Wingert with an injury, Javy Morales close but still not back. Yikes. Captain Kyle Beckerman started tonight but trained with the USA team all week. Alvaro Saborio played for Costa Rica last night against the USA, but he returned to RSL for the game starting on the bench. On the plus side, Paulo Jr. is back from injury and got the starting nod, he was active all night. Ned Grabavoy also came back from injury, coming in as a second half sub.
Most of the action, and all the goals came in the first half tonight. In the 18th minute, Beckerman put RSL in the lead. He played a short corner, took a pass back from Schuler then absolutely BLASTED a GOLAZO from outside the area. Nobody got in the way, if they had, it probably would have removed their heads. Mondragon stood no chance. 1-0 to the Claret and Cobalt. Then in the 25th minute, Schuler made his presence felt by rising above EVERYBODY on a corner kick and heading the ball down and into the net to make it 2-0. Sebastian Le Toux, who I really like, got one back for the Union just a few minutes later, getting on the end of a Justin Mapp cross and making it 2-1, which was the result at the interval.
The second half was more gritty and less end to end stuff. Mondragon left the game at half time with a broken finger. The Union brought in rookie MacMath, who did an excellent job for them in goal in second half, keeping RSL off the board. RSL also had two men make their team debuts in the second half. Cody Arnoux made his MLS debut after being injured most of the season. New acquisition Blake Wagner also came in late for Robbie Russell. Freddy Adu entered in the second half for the Union, and unfortunately the RSL fans booed him pretty good. I think that's pretty lame. Anyone probably would have made the same jump he did. He's a good guy and a solid player.
There were no goals in the second half as RSL held on for the victory, 2-1. The win puts RSL into 4th place in the West, 1 point ahead of the Rapids.
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