Match Thoughts and Three Stars: RSL vs San Jose

RSL celebrates Ned Grabavoy's first half goal (Deseret News Photo)

I think it's fairly safe to say that last night was the closest we've seen to perfection from RSL this year, especially in the first half.  The Claret and Cobalt rode a wave of first half pressure to a comfortable 3-0 win over the struggling San Jose Earthquakes, with more than a little help from Nick Rimando in the second half.

From my view in section 30, the first few minutes looked a little rough, though I think sloppy would be a good word to describe both sides.  The Quakes seemed like they wanted to play, while RSL lobbed a few balls down the pitch to little effect.  However things quickly righted themselves, much of it coming about through the work of Robbie Findley. 

RSL drew first blood in minute 16 as Robbie torched Justin Morrow and launched a blistering shot on frame.  Quakes' keeper Jon Busch made the save, but gave up a fat rebound that fell right to Javier Morales.  Javi calmly knocked the ball in from just outside the six to give RSL the 1-0 lead, and good times had returned to Rio Tinto Stadium.

Robbie made himself useful again in the 33rd, finding Javi, who sent a low ball into the 18.  Joao Plata was there and looked to make a play on the ball, keeping Busch on his line.  However, at the last second Plata let it go and it slid to Ned Grabavoy, who smashed the ball into the upper corner to make it 2-0.  RSL made it 3-0 five minutes later as Robbie got onto the end of a ball exiting the box and drove an absolute missile inside the far post.  RSL easily held the lead going into the half time break from there on in.

Tired legs started to make themselves plain for RSL in the second half, keep in mind that several of these guys, including Kyle Beckerman and Morales, had seen substantial minutes in the extra time victory over Atlanta in the Open Cup on Tuesday.  The Quakes had inserted Steven Lenhart just prior to halftime, and were more on the attack in the second half.

That's when Nick Rimando took over the match for Real Salt Lake.  Let's put it this way, if Rimando isn't Rimando last night, the Quakes snatch at least a goal in the second half and might have made it interesting.  Then we'd have to be hearing all of that Goonie crap today.  Thankfully, Rimando was in top form.  He saved a blast from Chris Wondolowski late on, as well as a close range effort from Lenhart late to keep the clean sheet.  Still, there were really very few times where I thought, "Oh man, here it comes, San Jose is gonna get one back."  All in all the RSL defense did a pretty good job on Wondo and Lenhart, with Nat Borchers and Kwame Watson-Siriboe leading the charge.  Kwame did take a nice chunk out of Lenhart at one point, and RSL might have been lucky to avoid a PK call on it, but in the end they easily held on for the 3-0 win.

So all that being said, here's the Puddle's 3 Stars for RSL vs San Jose.

THIRD STAR--Javier Morales (RSL)
Javi had another outstanding game.  I think we're finally seeing him back to his best, post injuries.  MLS has him as MotM,  but to me, as good as Javi was, there were other guys who really were in the driver's seat.  Javi was still a major component though, as usual.

SECOND STAR--Nick Rimando (RSL)
I said earlier, Rimando kept the points for RSL.  Lesser 'keepers let some of those through, and it ends up being 3-2 or even 3-3.  Not Nick though, he earned his clean sheet in the second half last night.

FIRST STAR--Robbie Findley (RSL)
To me, there is no other choice here.  Robbie has taken a ton of flack over the last few weeks.  A lot of it has probably been deserved, but he was SPOT ON last night.  He was involved in all three RSL goals, one way or another.  Oh, and his finish to the far post--EXPERT.  If he can remain consistent at this level and stay injury free, RSL is going to be scary down the stretch.