I don't ever take notes when I'm enjoying myself at the RioT, so these RSL updates are usually just general impressions. Of course, by the end of the match on Saturday, I wasn't really enjoying myself anymore.
Once I got home and saw some replays from a different vantage point, I realized my initial feelings posted on Twitter were probably overly critical. I admit that I get caught up in the moment and get mouthy when my team loses. It comes from years as a Chelsea fan, especially recent years when you expect to win.
It seemed to me, sitting behind the north goal in our season seats, that we were settling for too much wing play. Fabian was getting some joy up our left, but we just couldn't make the connection in the final 3rd, especially in the second half. I also thought we were settling for too many long distance chances. Dan Kennedy is one of the best 'keepers in MLS and he'll take those all day I'm sure. What I'm not sure about is why Kennedy kept shanking his goal kicks out of bounds, but we still couldn't take advantage of the gift of possession, especially in 2nd half stoppage time.
Once I got home and watched some highlights, I saw what we were really dealing with. Chivas bunkered in and really clogged up the midfield, hence the wing play. RSL started to break it down late, but they just couldn't beat Kennedy.
As for Chivas. they did exactly what they needed to do. They soaked up the RSL possession and pressure, and caught the fluke goal on one of their only real chances of the match. It's almost Italian in the tactics, only Chivas wasn't quite as aggressive in the counter. I bet nine times out of ten, Nicky comes up with that spill and the goal doesn't get scored. Credit to them though, they defended desperately and well.
For RSL fans, get used to seeing that kind of tactic. I think it'll be employed a lot more. RSL needs to work on breaking down that bunker, and I think once Javy, Sabo, and Will get back we'll have a better run at it. It does make me feel bad to hear callers on the post game show talking about how Javy and Sabo suck. Neither of them do, and Sabo really was RSL's greatest threat in the second half. The ball just didn't bounce our way. Next up, Portland.
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