UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final Predictions

In my post back in February before the opening kick of the knockout phases, I predicted the following 8 teams would advance: AC Milan, Valencia, Shaktar Donetsk, Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich. Of the 8, I got 5 right. Which really isn't saying much as those 5 were fairly easy to pick. My AC Milan, Valencia, and Bayern Munich picks all proved to be wrong... I think I was picking more with my heart than my brain in each of those. The quarters have been set and so has the bracket for how this thing will play out. UEFA rigged it in a way that says "hey, look, we don't rig these things". With the final being in Wembley, you would think they would slide the 2 big English teams on opposite sides of the bracket so as to have the potential of an epic all English final in front of the English fans. Instead, the "random draw" put the two big remaining English teams, Manchester United and Chelsea, against each other in the quarters. This is the obvious big match-up, with the rest having an obvious favorite. The only other draw that really appeals to me is the Madrid vs Spurs match-up. I think that one is still very one-sided, but who knows.

Here is how I see this round going:

Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspurs - This series will be much like the Milan v Spurs match-up in the previous round: Spurs holding on for dear life and praying for a counter. With the first leg in Madrid, you have to think that Spurs will simply try to keep the scoring low and get one late, exactly like they did in Milan. I doubt this works for them. The attach heavy style of Madrid will be too much, even if Ronaldo can't play, and the visitors will be put into a hole. On the return home they will put up a good fight. However, opening play against Madrid is a very dangerous thing to do.

- First leg: Madrid 2 - Spurs 0

- Second leg: Madrid 1 - Spurs 1

Mardid Advances to the semis

Inter vs Schalke

- This series is very interesting, though should go in favor of the Italian side rather easily. Schalke just sacked their manager not too long ago and is struggling to get points in the German league. A success in this tournament could really save the season for the club, but I just don't see it happening. Inter is finding their stride lately and really has the edge in this thing. The first leg in Milan will be very telling. If Schalke can keep it close, they might have a chance... I just don't see that happening.

- First leg: Inter 3 - Schalke 0

- Second leg: Inter 1 - Schalke 2

Inter Advances to the semis

Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk

- If there was one series I would wager a large amount of money on, it would be this one. Barca is simply the much better side and should be able to dominate this series. I think Shakhtar is going to give them a run for their money, especially considering they have nothing to lose. At the end of the day, though, Barca has just too much talent to not win this series. The one interesting aspect of this series is that the first leg is in Barcelona. If Shakhtar can get an away goal and keep it close, that return leg will be a really open game and fun to watch.

- First leg: Barca 2 - Shakhtar 1

- Second leg: Barca 2 - Shakhtar 2

Barca Advances to the semis in a thriller

Manchester United vs Chelsea

- This one is really going to be fun to watch. With so many different story lines and such on the line, the match-up of these two squads is bound to be a thriller. United has struggled a bit lately, but so has Chelsea. Neither team is playing at their top form, but this presents a perfect opportunity to spring board the rest of the season off of. The first leg at Stamford Bridge should be fascinating to watch. Chelsea has quite the edge on their home pitch, but United has proven they can get results anywhere if they play their best. I think this series is bound for extra time back at Old Trafford, honestly. I may be hoping more than anything that it goes to penalties, as well, as that would just be too good of a story.

- First leg: Chelsea 2 - United 1

- Second leg: Chelsea 1 - United 2

United Advances to the semis after winning 4-3 in penalties. Giggs with the winning pk

Thus, here is how I see the semis stacking up:

Madrid vs Inter

and

Barca vs United

- I think we would see a Madrid v United final that would, again, be rich in story lines and such.

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA MILAN

FORZA REAL

Post RSL v LA Galaxy

What a game...RSL showed just how dominant they can be in the first 45 minutes. Scratch that, they showed how dominant they could be in the first 2 minutes. LA hadn't even really gained control of the ball and they were digging it out of the back of their net. This game was proof, to many, of just how important it is to build a team rather than have a couple "superstars" with pretty bad role players around them. Both teams were missing two starters but you would have thought LA was fielding their youth team with how badly RSL was running circles around them. Beautiful match from the good guys in red. Here is a break down of each half, player rankings for RSL, the man of the match award, and last and certainly least the wanker of the match award.

1st Half

Before the opening kick, the atmosphere kept growing more and more at the RioT. The amazing videos that RSL put together really helped. The fans wanted blood. David Beckham and this "amazing" LA team that everyone had heard of were really starting to get on people's nerves. This team was the best in the league, supposedly, so lets see what they can do in the RioT. They weren't ready for what hit them.

RSL came flying out of the gates. Having struggled to get goals against LA in the past, you could tell the guys knew an early goal would really change things. Instantly we were down on the south end of the pitch, forcing the issue. Next thing you know, Paulo Junior is slotting a pass to Espy, who misses, but Andy is right there to bury it into the far post. 1-0 good guys and most people hadn't even found their seats yet. The RioT was on fire. Confetti and streamers filled the air, the place was electric. Then the turning point of the game came. LA was awarded a really weak free kick just outside the 18 on the right side (Nicky's left). Golden Balls, no matter how crappy of a game he is having, can step up and bend one in. The tension was rising. RSL didn't want to lose its early lead just a few minutes after it had gained it. Beckham hit what looked to be a fairly decent shot, going for the right post (again, Nicky's left) but then it struck Andy Williams in the back and made a dip towards the opposite post. In what can only be described as amazing luck, the ball rang off the post, hit Olave in the thigh, and went directly into Rimando's hands. It was proof the soccer gods do in fact look down on the RioT.

From there, RSL pushed the issue again. Just moments later, Espindola played a wonderful chip into the box for Paulo Junior who tried to get around Saunders by heading it. Saunders did his best linebacker impersonation and took Paulo to the ground. Penalty for RSL. It became apparent, though, that RSL wasnt exactly sure who was going to take the penalty. Saborio normally takes them, but he was with Costa Rica. Will Johnson has taken them as well, but he was with Canada. Findley took them last year at times, but he isn't with the team. So who would it be? and how fitting that the penalty was against LA's backup keeper Saunders. Javi took charge and grabbed the ball. A slight hesitation in his approach, and he slotted it home easily. RSL was up 2-0 and the game was only 10 minutes in.

After that things settled down, though only a bit. RSL was still the much better side. They were stringing 20+ passes together and I was starting to wonder if LA had missed their flight. You couldn't write the script for the third goal any better. Chris Wingert goes to throw the ball in on the east side after LA failed to clear the ball properly. Jimmer Fredette is then shown on the jumbo tron with a sign reading "thank you Jimmer" below his name. People turned their attention to Jimmer. As this happened, and people began to give the kid the ovation he deserves, Wingert found a streaking Javi with a sublime throw-in. Javi let it roll across the 18 before unleashing a beautiful strike that picked out the top corner. I would wager nearly 3/4ths of the people in the stadium didn't see the goal live, which is a shame, but just too funny at the same time. LA just got Jimmered. With a ridiculous shot from distance, Javi put the game away. No way was LA going to score 3 goals against RSL at the RioT. It just simply won't happen. Thus, the first half came to an end shortly after. RSL up 3-0 and people were starting to say to one another "is this another New England game?!?"

2nd Half

Sadly, it wasn't to be another 5+ goal night at the RioT. I think we are saving that one for the 4th of July when New England comes to town. RSL came out of the half, surprisingly, with more energy than LA. You would think being down 3-0 that LA would be pissed and want to at least make a point and not let the bleeding continue. This didn't seem to be the case, though, early on in the second half. RSL was, again, the better side for the first 10-15 minutes. Pushing the game forward, just unlucky to not find the back of the net. After that 10-15 minutes, though, the game settled back down a bit. RSL was still the better side, it just wasn't so utterly obvious as before. LA then pulled what I will label a "Key-Stone Cops" moment as the CB and LB for them collided and let a through ball to Espy between them. Espy showed his composure and unselfishness as he found a streaking Paulo Junior with a ridiculous cross that left Saunders scrabbling and the recovering defenders for LA chasing. It was a perfect cross, truly.

Up 4-0 the game kind of went into cruise control. The typical fire that is seen in a LA v RSL game was long gone, no thanks to the visitors not even showing up. LA did get one back on a heads up play by Beckham. He quickly took a set piece and found Angel on the far post. Olave and Rimando had bad communication and let the ball fall all the way to Angel's feet as he finished from 3 yards out. The clean sheet was ruined, and you could tell it bugged a few players on the squad, most of all Rimando. Lets just hope this error got out of his system here, and not in a tight match. RSL closed out the night making some rather interesting subs. After the 4th RSL goal, Andy Williams got a curtain call and Collen Warner made his first 2011 MLS appearance. Tony Beltran came on for Robbie Russel, a sub I still don't quite understand. The only explanation I can think of is Russell picked up an injury. Lastly, a moment I had really been waiting for, Luis Gil made his MLS debut and came on late for Paulo Junior. The kid is still a bit raw, but you can see the talent. He is only 17, after all. It really was just a superb night at the RioT. Though the full 90 wasn't electric, the first 45 more than made up for it.

RSL Player Rankings:

Nick Rimando: B+

- Besides the obvious error, it was obvious Nicky felt some pain in the second half which killed his goal kicks. Not a bad night, but not exactly one he should feel confident about.

Nat Borchers: A-

- Nat was solid as a rock back there. The lone LA goal had nothing to do with him. Angel was marked up, it was just poor communication.

Jamison Olave: B+

- The goal wasn't his fault, but I have to slight him a bit for it regardless. Still a tremendous night from the verb. He is truly a special player out there. His speed is amazing.

Chris Wingert: A-

- His "assist" via throw-in was sublime. Great night from out best outside back

Robbie Russell: B+

- No major mistakes, but nothing to write home about. Probably a good thing as an outside back

Tony Beltran: B

- Tony seemed a bit rusty when he first came on, but got right into the flow of things. Nice to have 3 outside backs that could start on any team in the league.

Kyle Beckerman: A

- I was tempted to give Kyle the man of the match award for his work on Juninho. The "play maker" for LA was non-existent in this match largely due to the work of KB

Andy Williams: A-

- Like a fine wine, Andy continues to get better. Clinical finish for the first goal, great composure for the rest of the match.

Ned Grabavoy: B+

- In my pre-game post I said Ned would be an X-factor. LA didn't exactly show up so Ned's involvement didn't matter that much. Regardless, Ned worked very hard off the ball and had a decent night

Collen Warner: B

- Collen did his job as a sub pretty well. He isn't Andy, so its hard to come on to replace him. However, he did well enough.

Paulo Junior: A

- This kid is something special. I think of him as a hybrid between Yura (who we had before) and Javi. Great technical skill and a tremendous work rate. This kid is a joy to watch

Fabian Espindola: A

- Knowing PJ was pushing for his spot with his play, Fabian has stepped it up. His work rate has improved and his unselfishness is key to how this team plays. Wonderful match and assist.

Luis Gil: B-

- Didn't really do anything bad, but you could tell the speed of play was a bit much for him initially. After a minute or two, though, he settled into the game nicely.

Man of the Match: Javier Morales (A+)

Calm as you like on the pk, rocket of a shot on the third, and an overall superb match gives Javi the man of the match award. When this guy is on, RSL is seemingly impossible to beat. Best AM in the league? Quite possibly.

Wanker of the Match: David Beckham

Golden Balls reminded me of a frustrated high school player for large stretches of the game. He would get pissy with the ref, yell at him, then his fellow team-mates, then use up a ton of energy chasing the ball out of frustration. This played right into RSL's hands as they essentially made him look like a moving cone in a passing drill. Beckham can be a classy guy, but he lost his head for portions of this game. The RioT and RSL got to him a bit, you could tell.

Well, that's it for now. RSL is now on a break as they don't play again until April 5th @ Saprissa in one of the most important matches in club history. I will do a pre-game post on that one later this week or this weekend. It is sure to be a great game as Saprissa has to come out attacking and RSL could really do some damage with an away goal.

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA REAL!!!

Pre RSL vs LA Galaxy

It's an MLS Cup 2009 rematch...It looks like the weather will be just as cold, so bring your warm gear and outside voices. With it being an international date (damn you MLS for not taking these off) multiple players will be missing from both sides. Also, the injury bug has struck. Neither team will be able to field their regular XI, which is a shame considering these are probably two of the best teams (if not the 2 best teams) in the league. For LA: Landon Donovan will be out on international duty with the Yanks (GO USA!!!) and Donovan Ricketts is still out with an injury. Other than that, though, LA looks to have most their starters. Omar Gonzalez is listed as probable, but he fully participated in practice on Thursday with the Gals so I would expect him to be out there. The starting XI will probably be something like this, for LA:

(4-4-2)

GK: Saunders

LB: Dunivant

CB: De La Garza

CB: Gonzalez

RB: Franklin

LM: Stephens

CAM: Juninho

CDM: Birchall

RM: Beckham

FW: Barrett

FW: Angel

For RSL, the personnel situation is much worse. Alvaro Saborio, Will Johnson, and Arturo Alvarez are all out on international duty (congrats and good luck to each of them). On top of that, Jamison Olave looks doubtful, Nick Rimando is questionable, and Chris Wingert is also doubtful. RSL is, thus, going to have to prove its depth in its first home game of the 2011 MLS regular season. I have worries about the chemistry of the squad, especially with Will and Sabo out, but I think we are deep enough to pull it off. The starting XI for RSL I would expect:

(4-4-2)

GK: Rimando

- Doubt the bone spur keeps him out if it is as reported

LB: Beltran

- Will have huge responsibility on Beckham

CB: Schuler

- LA will be whipping the ball into JPA, a lot

CB: Borchers

- Has to be sound for us to be successful

RB: Russell

- Can't get beat easily as he has in the past

LM: Grabavoy

- Needs to help Beltran make Beckham go left

CAM: Morales

- Need him to step up like he did last year against LA at the RioT

CDM: Beckerman

- Our Becks has to be better

RM: Williams

- We need both Andy and Javi on with their passing

FW: Espindola

- Would love to see that same work rate he showed against Saprissa

FW: Paulo Junior

- Replacing Sabo is a huge task. Just keep it simple

This game will be, as most games are, won in the midfield. The attacking power of each team is fairly similar, with the possible edge going to LA (the JPA addition is huge, I think). I think we have a slight edge defensively just because of size and chemistry. The middle of the park is a battle of two similar yet different styles. I think LA will really look to spread us out and use an aerial attack supplied by Golden Balls himself. This match up is the key to the match.

Key player to watch for LA: David BeckhamWith Donovan gone, Beckham will be given (at least according to reports) the captain's armband. His history suggests he should be able to handle himself in this situation, but the RioT is a very unique place if you ask me. He will likely be, along with Juninho, the main focus of RSL's defense. If LA gets a goal, I would bet Beckham has something to do with it. Most likely a cross.

Key Player to watch for RSL: Ned Grabavoy

It would be rather easy to use one of the typical RSL key players, like Beckerman or Morales, for this one, but I think this game is going to take something a bit extra. Ned has a history of being a great role player and occasionally stepping up big (see home game vs Chivas last year). For RSL to be successful Ned has to work his tail off on both ends. he will be replacing the energizer bunny known as Will Johnson so the shoes are mighty big (and worn out). He is likely going to be put on the same side as Beckham (our left, their right) and thus will be pivotal in shutting down the initial LA attack. I have a good feeling Ned will step up for this one.

Prediction:
In the end, this game will be a great one to watch; even if the weather sucks. I have faith in the good guys in red, especially on our home field. The first 15 minutes will be very telling. I think RSL comes flying out the gate ready to win.

Score: RSL 3 - LA 2

- PJ with a brace, Javi with the winner.

- JPA and Beckham with the LA goals

Hope to see all of you out there freezing your balls off (or if you are a woman... your bums) with me.

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA REAL

Post RSL @ San Jose

This game was so ugly I put off writing it for a couple days...
Really there isnt much to say about this game except that it was wet, cold, and not that fun to watch (or play in, I'm sure). At the end of the day, the good guys in red came out victorious. It's funny for many of us "long time" RSL fans to have games like this go our way. In the early years these games were a recipe for disaster. If we got a point it was a miracle. It seems, though, that we have the lucky bounces on our side in recent years... literally.

All in all we got 3 points and should burn the tape from the game as nothing good can come of it. Scratch that, we can all laugh as Will Johnson falls over for the 15th time. I guess there is something to the game tape, afterall. Here is a brief follow-up with player ratings, man of the match, and of course, wanker of the match awards.


Player Ratings:
All players: B
- The reason for this is that it's really difficult for me to judge how a player's night went when half the time they are just simply trying to keep their footing. It's not fair to any of them to say they had a good night or bad night. They had lucky and unlucky nights, really. So, just to be fair, everyone (save Rimando) gets a B.



Man of the Match: Nick Rimando: A-
Our midget, as I call him, came through big time in this game. He acknowledged that he did get a bit lucky with some of the saves, but at the end of the day he kept a clean sheet in some of the worst possible conditions. 2 points in Nicky's favor on the season. He, along with pretty much all of the players on this squad, has a habit of making some key mistakes later on. So it is good to know that he got us 2 points in this game (we deserved a draw, I think) that maybe we didnt deserve.

Wanker of the match: The weather

This game looked as though it was going to be a very entertaining one as both teams were interested in playing attractive soccer. Because of the weather, however, this didnt happen. I can't blame a player or the ref (which is amazing given it was Toledo) for the poor play, it was 100% the weather.

Like I said, lets just put this one behind us and move on. This weekend RSL hosts LA. Though multiple players will be out either because of injury or international duty, this game should still be a joy to watch. Hopefully the weather doesnt kill it off, as well.

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA REAL

CCL: Post RSL v Saprissa

What a night!This past Tuesday was a special evening at the RioT. Hosting its most important home match to date, RSL came out victorious in the first leg of its semi final vs Saprissa. The game was loaded with emotion and showed some tremendous skill from both teams. RSL got its win and, more importantly, kept a clean sheet. 2-0 lead going to Saprissa isn't by any means a confident margin, but it is a whole lot better than the alternative. Here is a brief look back at the game, player ratings for RSL, my man of the match award, and the wanker of the match award.

1st Half

RSL came flying out of the gate. Kreis said in post-game interviews that he told the guys to give Saprissa no room to breathe in those first 15-20 minutes, that is exactly what they did. Saprissa couldn't string together more than a couple passes and RSL was looking more and more dangerous by the second. In the 5th minute, about, it seemed as though all the hard work payed off when Nat Borchers, of all players, got on the end of a Fabian Espindola inch perfect cross. For whatever reason, the goal was called back. Upon review, the Saprissa player that Nat supposedly fouled attempted a bike, missed, and landed awkwardly. The ref thought Nat pushed, he obviously was not watching the game closely. It was such a bad call the AR on the west side initially signaled for a goal (he would have seen the foul) and then stopped and looked confused to say the least. This ended up not mattering all that much as Sabo put one in literally minutes later on a great counter from the middle of the pitch for RSL. Andy laid it out wide to Espy who crossed it back (intended for Andy, but ended up at Sabo) to Sabo who buried the shot. It wasn't pretty, but it went in. That's all that matters.

After the first 15 or so, Saprissa changed their formation and strategy a bit and seemed to get more time on the ball. RSL was a bit more comfortable after the Saborio goal and didn't want to get too stretched, you could tell. Saprissa had its moments, but nothing ever really materialized. The game got chippy at times with a couple Saprissa players going into the book and some more deserving to but, for whatever reason, the ref decided against it. Saprissa was the better side for a little bit, but didn't really have much to show for it. They had a near goal later in the half, but it was called back for a legitimate offsides. That meant going into half RSL was up 1-0.

2nd Half

The second 45 were interesting to say the least. RSL didn't come out, thankfully, flat like they did against Columbus. Instead, they came out at about the same pace they ended the half with. The game looked really like it was just put on pause for 15 minutes and then play resumed. Espy changed this, though, after about 15 minutes with some tremendous hustle and calm nerves. He went into an initial tackle with one of the Saprissa center backs and made the player rush his clearance and, I believe, got a piece of the ball to deflect it off its intended path. The Saprissa player went down grabbing his ankle, begging for a foul that wasn't there. The ball landed at Andy's feet and he, with his tremendous vision and passing abilities, put the ball right into the complaining center back's space. Espy ran onto the ball, side stepped the other center back with a wonderful cut back, and slotted the shot home with his right foot. Truly a hard working goal as Espy essentially got both an assist and a goal in it.

For moments after that it seemed as though RSL was just content with the 2 goal margin. The last thing they wanted was to give up a goal so they were really hesitant to push forward to hard. At the same time, Saprissa didn't want to leak anymore goals and thus made some rotations to play a full on counter attacking style. They resorted to long clearing balls, RSL wasn't its usual overly offensive passing self. Thus, the last 20 minutes can really be summed up as a bit awkward. Both teams didn't want to get scored on and thus weren't showing their true abilities offensively. It's the downside of a 2 leg series, but it is all part of the game. In the end, RSL probably could have added another but didn't want to expose themselves to that countering style Saprissa had settled into. The 2-0 result was a fair and just one.

RSL Player Ratings:

Nick Rimando: A-

- Nicky had a tremendous game between the pipes. He was only called on a couple times to make saves but did so extremely well. Great game from our midget

Tony Beltran: B+

- When I saw Tony was taking Wingert's spot I got a little nervous. Wingert is a key aspect of our back line and Tony is still a bit young. It didn't matter though as Tony answered the call. His offensive abilities need to be worked on, but he is a great defender.

Nat Borchers: B+

- Nat got robbed of a goal but still did his job very well in the back. The leader of this squad's defense did well to adjust to the changing styles of both teams and kept the back line organized.

Jamison Olave: B+

- Sadly Olave only got to put in 45 minutes, but they were solid. The big man made his presence felt and did his "Olave says no!" tackles. Love this guy, hope his injury isn't too serious.

Chris Schuler: B

- Chris isn't the prettiest player to watch. He seems a bit awkward and uncoordinated, but he gets the job done. Cant complain with results.

Robbie Russell: B-

- In my opinion Robbie had one of the worst nights out there, but still was ok. His tracking abilities weren't exposed too much and he didn't get burned too much. Needs improvement though, for sure, in the second leg.

Will Johnson: B+

- The kid works his tail off every night. Because of it, we don't realize how special it truly is at times. Will was everywhere in this game. Almost had another ridiculous shot find the back of the net, as well, in the second half.

Kyle Beckerman: B+

- Like Will, Kyle works his tail off the entire night every game. He had his hands full with some very talented players in the middle and handled himself pretty well. He is still on yellow card peril so he has to be careful with his play down in Costa Rica.

Javier Morales: A-

- Javi, especially in the first half, was the connecting guy. He was inspired out there, you could tell. Great night from the Argentine.

Andy Williams: A

- What can I say, this guy just keeps getting better with age. Another great night from the silky Andy Williams.

Alvaro Saborio: A-

- Sabo was, especially early on, a man possessed out there. He was getting to anything and everything and making sure his former team-mates remembered his name. Wonderful night from Sabo, tremendous shot on his goal.

Ned Grabavoy: B+

- Ned came on and did his thing. He is a great role player in this midfield who is really capable of being special on the occasion. He didn't have the moment of brilliance he has every once in awhile, but still was great on the night.

Arturo Alvarez: B

- Arturo got an incredible welcome from the fans, something I was even a bit surprised with (well done guys). He was a bit nervous, you could tell, but he also showed his abilities to change things up a bit if needed. Nothing too special, but his first night in the RioT finally came.

Man of the Match:
Fabian Espindola (A)

Espy proved why he is so special to this team in this game. His tremendous work-rate earned the second goal and he was constantly a threat for the rest of the game. Well done by the crazy haired Argentine.

Wanker of the Match:

Douglas Sequeira

Sequeria was lucky not to see red a couple times in this match. His late and often disgustingly dirty tackles had me thinking Kyle was a saint in the middle of the pitch. He is suspended for next match, so no more fearing that he might bust Javi's ankle.

Overall, just a wonderful night at the RioT. The fans were great, the play was, for the most part, very exciting and pretty, and the good guys won. You can't complain with that. Looking forward to the next leg, a lot of questions are in the air. For Saprissa, who fills in for their 3 suspended players and how offensive do they approach the game. For RSL, if Olave is out (even if not hurt, because of on the turf) who fills in for him and what kind of formation change, if any, does Kreis make. These will be looked at in the pre game post to that game on April 5th.

Cheers,
15 to 32
FORZA REAL

CCL: RSL vs Saprissa

Here we go, biggest match in Rio Tinto Stadium history.Tomorrow night, Tuesday March 15th at 8pm, Real Salt Lake will host Saprissa from Costa Rica in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-final. Its a big deal. If RSL is to advance to the final against either Monterrey or, in what would be a juicy rematch, Cruz Azul they have to get through the purple dragon/monsters first. Here are my keys to the match, projected starting lineup for RSL (I did Saprissa's yesterday), key players to watch for both teams, and my projected final score for this first leg.

Keys to the Match for RSL:

- Defend as a group. Saprissa has multiple talented players on the ball, especially in the middle of the park. If RSL gets stretched or a bit lazy, Saprissa will make them pay. RSL has to stay sound defensively and, as Kreis preaches, defend as a unit just as much as they attack as a unit. Olave Beckerman, and Borchers have to have good games in this leg if RSL is going to succeed.

- Utilize set pieces. Saprissa, from what I have seen of them in this tournament and in general, is not a tremendous team in the air, especially defensively. RSL will have to be lethal on any and all set piece opportunities. Corners, free kicks, etc. RSL has to show not only creativity but its strength and size. I honestly think a goal or two in this first leg will come off a set piece for RSL.

- Keep a clean sheet. This emphasizes the first bullet a bit more. The away-goals rule applies i this series, so keeping a clean sheet on your home field is just as important, in my opinion, as getting a multiple goal lead. I would take a 2-0 win over a 3-1 win.

Keys to the match for Saprissa:

- Expose the wings (or lack thereof) on RSL. This is an area that will, along with the set pieces, be what decides the series. If Saprissa is allowed to get wide and go down the flanks, they will give RSL nightmares. Both of the outside backs for Saprissa are very talented players that love to get forward.

- Get a goal. Like the clean sheet for RSL, a goal on the road would be huge for Saprissa. Even if they lose, like I said, a goal on the road is incredibly valuable.

- Disrupt the midfield of RSL. Teams are most successful against RSL when they clog up the middle of the pitch and force RSL to try and play longer balls through the air. RSL isn't built to play the kick and run style, they are built to control the game on the floor. Saprissa can open things up a bit and clog the middle. If they want to be successful, they will have to do this.

Projected Starting XI for RSL:

- GK: Nick Rimando - has to have a solid night

- LB: Chris Wingert - minor ankle sprain wont hold Chris back

- CB: Jamison Olave - must be sound in defense and not let the Saprissa players get to him with their diving

- CB: Nat Borchers - he has to be the Nat we know and love, nuff said

- RB: Robbie Russell - needs to get forward and get service into Sabo

- LM: Will Johnson - will have his work cut out tracking the outside back for Saprissa (Blanco)

- CDM: Kyle Beckerman - the midfield cohesion starts with Kyle, this is a huge aspect

- CAM: Javier Morales - needs to have a career night

- RM: Andy Williams - needs to show that vision and work ethic he did against CBus

- FW: Fabian Espindola - must keep his cool and go at players 1v1

- FW: Alvaro Saborio - only player with experience in this grand of club stage, must lead team

Bench:

GK: Kyle Reynish

DF: Tony Beltran

DF: Chris Schuler

MF: Ned Grabavoy

MF: Jean Alexandre
FW: Paulo Junior
FW: Arturo Alvarez

Key Player for Saprissa: Walter Centeno

All my research points to this guy being the heart and soul of Saprissa. He essentially plays the Morale's type role of creator for the squad. He is a member of the Costa Rica national team and, though getting older, still has some incredible vision and passing abilities. Kyle will have his hands full with this guy for sure. If we can keep Centeno in check, we should be able to eliminate their offensive abilities.

Key Player for RSL: Alvaro Saborio

Sabo is the only player on the squad to go this deep in a champions league format. Robbie Russell played in the European version, sure, but he wasn't ever in the knockout phases, or at least not a semi-final. Sabo also, as we all know, is from Costa Rica and played for quite awhile with Saprissa. He needs to be the go to guy and a leader out there. His typically cool composure must show and he must be willing to put in loads of dirty work. For some reason, I think Sabo is going to have a monster night against his former squad.




Game Projection: RSL 2 - Saprissa 0
- Sabo with a brace: 33' and 65'

It may be more hopeful thinking than anything, but I think RSL will be able to get 2 goals and keep a clean sheet against Saprissa. I'm not 100% sure or comfortable with the idea that 2 goals will be enough to get us through to the next round, but I think it will be a good cushion nonetheless.


Regardless of the outcome, this is going to be a memorable night. You don't host a semi-final in your regions champions league (the grandest club tournament their is) all that often. Hopefully the fans that brave the weather (which looks to be actually pretty nice) will be loud and vocal. I would love to be singing "OLE, OLE OLE OLE, REAL SALT LAKE" the whole night through with 15K other crazy RSL fans.

Cheers,
15 to 32
FORZA REAL

Saprissa in CCL

Here is an overview of how Saprissa, RSL's semi-final opponent, has done in this tournament this "year" (10-11) and in general.

Full Name: Deportivo Saprissa Sociedad Anónima Deportiva
Stadium: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá
League: Primera Division de Costa Rica
Qualified as: 2010 Verano (League) Champion
Number of Appearances in CCL: 24
CONCACAF FIFA Club World Cup Representative: 2005 (finished 3rd)
Country and city: San Jose, Costa Rica
Manager: Juan Manuel Alvarez

Current Roster:
(#, position, name)
1 GK Victor Bolivar
2 DF Yader Balladares
3 DF Victor Cordero
4 DF José Mena
5 DF Alexander Robinson
6 DF Esteban Sirias
7 MF Maikol Ortiz
8 MF Walter Centeno (2rd Captain)
9 FW Alejandro Sequeira (3rd Captain)
10 FW Alonso Solís
11 FW Allan Alemán
12 MF Fernando Paniagua
13 GK Fausto González
14 DF Roberto Wong
15 MF Saúl Phillips
16 DF Gabriel Badilla
17 MF Jose Luis Lopez
18 DF Oscar Duarte
19 FW Jairo Arrieta
20 MF David Guzman
21 FW Armando Alonso
22 GK Minor Alvarez
23 MF Juan Bustos
24 DF Ricardo Blanco
26 FW William Phillips
27 MF Mauricio Castillo
28 FW Josue Martinez
29 DF Javier Loaiza
30 DF Douglas Sequeira
32 MF Esteban Luna
33 MF Luis Diego Cordero
* every single player on this squad is from Costa Rica*

2010 - 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Stats
Advanced as 2nd Place in Group C.
Other members of group: Monterrey (1st), Marathon (3rd), Seattle (4th)
Matches:
- 8/17/10, Lost, Monterrey 1 - Saprissa 0
- 8/26/10, Win, Saprissa 4 - Marathon 1 (goals by Sequeira, Arrieta, Martinez, and Alonso)
- 9/14/10, Win, Saprissa 2 - Seattle 0 (goals by Guzman and Aleman)
- 9/22/10, Lost, Marathon 2 - Saprissa 1 (goal by Arrieta)
- 9/28/10, Draw, Saprissa 2 - Monterrey 2 (goals by Meza (OG) and Mena)
- 10/19/10, Win, Saprissa 2 - Seattle 1 (goals by Arrieta and Martinez)
- 2/24/11, Win, Saprissa 1 - Olimpia 0 (goal by Alonso)
- 3/3/11, Win, Saprissa 2 - Olimpia 1 (goals by Alonso and Cordero)

Leading Goal Scorer in CCL: 3 by Alonso and Arrieta (tied)
Lineup that we can probably expect (or close to):
- (3-5-2) -
- GK: #1 V. Bolívar (played in both Olimpia matches, none previously)

- DF: #14 R. Wong (same as Bolivar)
- DF: #4 J. Mena (hard to tell who will be in the back with Wong, they switched for the Olimpia games)
- DF: #16 G. Badilla (same as Mena, these 2 are purely speculative)

- MF: #8 W. Centeno (played in both Olimpia matches)
- MF: #30 D. Sequeira (played in both Olimpia matches)
- MF: #21 A. Alonso (tied for leading goal scorer, in both Olimpia matches)
- MF: #20 D. Guzmán (played in both Olimpia matches)
- MF: #24 R. Blanco (one of 3 players to have played in all 8 matches)

- FW: #19 J. Arrieta (one of 3 players to have played in all 8 matches, tied for most goals on team)
- FW: #28 J. Martínez (one of 3 players to have played in all 8 matches)

They changed the lineup quite a bit but I would expect most of these guys to start or at least see the pitch in both legs.

Another interesting bit, the following players are on yellow card caution meaning that if they were to get a yellow in the first leg at the RioT they would have to sit out the second leg at Saprissa.
- #14 R. Wong
- #4 J. Mena
- #8 W. Centeno
- #21 A. Alonso
- #24 R. Blanco
- #9 A. Sequeira

For RSL, the players on yellow card caution are:
- #5 K. Beckerman
- #11 J. Morales

Yeah, we need both those guys.

Tomorrow I will have a preview of the match, just thought a little more information on Saprissa would be nice before that.

Cheers,
15 to 32

FORZA REAL

Red and Blue Army vs Purple Dragons

The semi's have been set, and man are they juicy. RSL has drawn the Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa; aka the Purple Dragons/Beasts/Monsters/etc.

This match up is interesting, if for nothing else, because of the home field advantage which each team enjoys. RSL, as we all know, plays at the RioT (Rio Tinto Stadium) and enjoys the altitude, cold thin air (at this time of year), dry air, and fans that are growing daily. Saprissa, on the other hand, plays in Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, an intimidating stadium regardless of the day or team they are facing. The number one thing that jumps out is the fans. Saprissa doesn't have a geographical advantage like RSL, but it does have fans that make you feel as though "you are in the cave of a monster". All the fans are right on top of you, with the supporters group called "La Ultra Morada" (The Purple Ultra) being the loudest.

These fans rival the Mexican fans in terms of craziness. They have been known to throw coins, rocks, bags of urine (no that's not a sick joke, I'm serious), etc at the opposing players, specifically keepers, while playing there.

What I am trying to say is that RSL will have its hands full for this one. To be comfortable going down there, I think RSL needs to get a 2-0 result here at the RioT. The clean sheet is vital, but the goal margin is even more so. Playing there is not an easy thing to do, but this club played well in Mexico City so who knows how much it will actually affect them. I have confidence in this squad, just hope they do themselves some favors and get a big lead while at home.

Regardless of how this series turns, this is a huge milestone for the club. To be in the semi finals of this regions grandest tournament is a testament to Jason Kreis, Dave Checketts, Garth Lagerway, Bill Manning, the players, the rest of the RSLFO staff, etc. All of these people have logged in hundreds if not thousands of hours for this club to get it where it is now. We are (I don't want to get ahead of myself but to prove how amazing this is) literally 4 matches, including these 2, away from going to Japan in the Club World Championships. Yeah, this is huge.

Get your tickets, invite everyone you know and then some, make some confetti, be loud, buy streamers, etc. This is, without a doubt, the most prestigious and important game this club has played at the RioT to date.

I will have a pre-game analysis of the first round at the RioT coming this weekend or Monday. Can't wait to write it, seriously. I want to go watch some history, how about you?

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA REAL

CCL: Post RSL vs Columbus

I love this team.Its hard to realize that the game last night was only the second competitive match for this team. At times last night it seemed as though this team was in mid-season form. The passes were crisp, the runs timed well, the vision prime, etc. etc. It's also amazing how warm a night can be, even if the temps are in the 30's - 40's, when your team is playing well. The game was pure excitement, which this coaching staff has promised it would be for quite some time now.


The first 20 or so minutes were all RSL. The eventual goal by Saborio seemed as though it was destiny. RSL came flying out of the gate and was looking to strike as quickly as possible. Some early season rust did show at times as runs were a bit off and passes a bit heavy, but compared to where they should be (its not even MLS season yet, people) this team was incredibly dangerous. The second goal by Javi was what you could just label as a "RSL Goal". Great passing build up, and then the legend himself, Andy Williams, makes a pass that nobody else in the stadium saw. At first I thought he miss-played a ball to Sabo. Then I see Javi on the end of it and he reminded us all that his skill set isn't just limited to passes. Clinical finish, with Johnson standing on the back post just in case. Gotta love it.


My favorite part of the first half, though, came with the people around me in section 14. I have a wonderful tradition to make confetti and buy streamers for RSL matches. Its a great way to show excitement and love and, to put it bluntly, it looks cool. I always try to get kids around me involved. I'm not much concerned about the adults around me, if they wanted to throw a stream or some confetti then they would bring some themselves. The kids, however, don't have that power. What they do have, however, is power over those adults. If I get them hooked on throwing a handful of confetti and a streamer, they will beg their parents to not only go to another game but to buy some stuff to have fun while there. These two kids in front of me did not disappoint. One was eyeing my stuff from the opening whistle, looking at myself and his dad for approval. Handing him a streamer was a great decision. The other kid wanted in on the action shortly thereafter. He didn't have as great of an arm (he hit a guy in the head 2 rows down, it was awesome) but he was hooked right away too. The game was wonderful, but converting young fans to want to enjoy the game more than just cheering (like they do at Jazz games, the kid even said that "we cant do this at Jazz games, huh dad" it was awesome) was the best part of the first half for me.


The second half started slow. You could tell the Crew got a good chewing out at the break and were looking to get back into this thing quickly. They didn't wait too long. RSL, at the same time, seemed a bit flat and relaxed. They often say 2-0 is the worst lead to have in soccer, the first couple of minutes of that second half proved why. Instantly, via a terrific shot by Mendoza, Columbus was back in this match. Another goal and the game would be turned on its head. The RSL we all know and love, however, responded well. Quickly attacking and regaining possession. It was pretty even until the subs were made. The addition of Paulo Junior proved to be the correct choice. Sabo wasn't having the best of nights (which is funny to say considering he found a goal, I'm fine if his "off nights" are like that) and so the switch made sense. PJ got in behind and found Javi on top of the 18. His low shot was incredibly well placed and beat Burse, in goal for Columbus, pretty easily. However, it must be said that Espy was in an offsides position. The question, however, was did he effect play? While the shot did go pretty much right by him, he didn't move towards it; in fact I think he moved away from it. The AR on the east side didn't signal a goal for quite some time as he and the center ref were discussing the goal via their mics (at least I think they were). Eventually they deemed that Espy didn't effect play and that the goal should stand. This is one of those gray questionable areas of the rules that are left to be determined by the individual refs. I think they got it right... but of course I wear claret colored glasses.


The last 20 minutes of the match will be placed in my memory in the category of "golden moments at the RioT". In about the 73rd minute the drummers in La Barra Real and Union Real stopped. For a good 10-15 seconds the place sorta got quiet; it was weird. But then that universal chant that all of us RSL fans know started. However, unlike the times before when it had been sung during the game (which were several) it grew, and grew, and grew. It was just incredible to be part of. You could feel the chant moving up the east and west stands and eventually it wrapped all the way around the stadium. It seemed as though all 15 thousand + people that were there decided, yeah, its a good time to sing. Honestly, that moment alone was the moment of the night. Sure, we hung 4 goals (3 up to that point) on the Crew and looked to be in some pretty damn good form doing it, but that one moment of fan unison was a sign of, hopefully, things to come. This club is turning into something special in this valley/region. I say this a lot, I know, but you can see it with your own eyes. Back in 2005-2007 you wouldn't see anybody wearing RSL gear unless it was game day up at Rice Eccles. Now I see it, and I'm not lying when I say this, daily. People are taking this team to their hearts, they are making it their own, and the FO (to their HUGE credit) is allowing this grass roots evolution to happen. I only hope it continues and that in say maybe 10-15 years, this team rivals the passion people show for the U and Y football programs (which I place above the Jazz).


The night couldn't have been finished in a better way. Andy Williams, the legend that he is, builds a ridiculous move down the west sideline, eventually resulting in a foul (which really should have been allowed to play on, but we will cut Geiger some slack here). Andy steps up to the set piece, eyeing that near post, and the whole crowd could just feel it. It was as if the stadium hit that ball along with Andy. When that ball hit the net, the place exploded. We love Andy Williams here, there is no other way of putting it. The guy is, and forever will be, the original RSL Legend. I'm sure more (and I hope more) will emerge like Kyle Beckerman, Jason Kreis, Javi Morales, etc. But the original, who has been here since the beginning, holds a special place in RSL fan's heart's.


All I can really say to give that goal justice is that's the Andy we know.


All in all, it was quite a memorable night at the RioT. It seems as though all nights there are memorable in some way shape or form, but this one sticks out. I am hesitant to label it "best night at the RioT, ever" just yet, but its hard to make a strong argument against it.

RSL Player Ratings: (A-F)
Rimando: A-
- Great night from the midget between the posts. I only slight him a little because of the one goal (which really wasn't his fault, but its still a goal)

Olave: A-
- Great night and really was the unsung hero in this one. He absolutely shut down the RSL Killer Jeff Cunningham. OLAVE SAYS NO!

Schuler: A-
- Nat who? Just kidding. But really, Chris showed that in case of injury or suspension we have a reliable backup. He isn't the prettiest of defenders, but you don't get extra points for style.

Wingert: B
- Wingert had a great night, I only knock him down a bit because he didn't get forward much. It likely was instructed by Kreis, but when he and Russel go up, we are that much more dangerous.

Russell: B-
- Same as Wingert. Robbie also had a couple scary moments through the night, but kept it clean. I highlighted him as the player to watch for RSL as he would get the Rogers/Cunningham-help assignment. I thought he did pretty well with those.

Beckerman: A
- The problem with being a D-Mid is that if you have a great night, it usually means nobody talks about you. Kyle was everywhere last night. Breaking up passes and starting the RSL attack. Kyle is the first part of our success of getting the ball from the back to the front. When you score 4 goals, he probably had a good night.

Johnson: A-
- The kid nearly beat his own goal back in 2008 for "best goal scored in the RioT" in the first half. That laser that rang off the far post was just ridiculous. Will was the energizer bunny we all love and expect him to be. Great night from the kid.

Javi: A
- It was the Javi show last night. I should be giving him MOTM awards, but meh...

Espindola: B+
- There were moments when Espy looked as though he hadn't played soccer in a couple years, and then there were moments when you wondered how this crazy left-footed maniac wasn't playing in Europe. The guy can flip a switch and be something special, its just keeping that switch flipped that is his issue. Still, though, he had the better night of the two starting strikers. You wont hear that very often when you are paired up with one of the best strikers in the league.

Saborio: B
- Yeah, the lowest rating goes to the guy with the first goal, how funny. Sabo struggled and I think, like I said earlier, it had part to do with the outside backs not getting up. Sabo is much better when we use him as a target/cross-to forward then when we try to link through him. He still is good with his feet, don't get me wrong, but his skill in the air is just sublime. We didn't use the aerial attack as much as Columbus was a bigger side, and Sabo struggled a bit because of it.

Paulo Junior: B+
- Its hard to compared a subs contribution to that of a starter, but the little firecracker proved to be a tremendous switch. He deserves a good portion of the credit for the third goal as his creativity and awareness beat the Crew and put Javi in the right place. Great night from PJ.

Jean: B+
- When he came on I just had to laugh. You knew Kreis was thinking "possession with anger" with that sub. Jean will either win the ball or make you wish he did after he swipes out your feet. I love this guy off the bench. He is a great asset.

Ned: B+
- Grab-some-boys is quite possibly the best role player I have seen in MLS. He does his job so well but so quietly that you love him and forget him at the same moment. This is yet another addition by Garth that you just have to sit back and say "wow, we got ourselves a good GM"

Man of the Match: Andy Williams (A)

In all honesty, Javi should have won this award. But Javi will likely win it a good 10-15 times the rest of this season. Andy, though, showed last night just how special he is. I would argue this is the best he has been in terms of fitness in his career here. I know he has taken special pride in improving his fitness, and last night it showed. Who would have thought Andy freakin Williams would be making runs in the 90+ minute to create goals. Just insane.

Wanker of the match: Robbie Rogers

I like Robbie, so don't get the wrong impression with this. Last night, however, he became a bit of a black hole. Outside of the 10 minutes in the second half when Columbus looked strong and Robbie was, thus, playing good connecting soccer, Rogers had an off night. He looked to goal from too far out and too often. He was, and you could tell, wanting to be the guy who made his mark and therefore, I would argue, played a bit outside of his normal self. This award will usually go to a guy I hate, but for last night nobody really had just an abysmal night (this is my way of saying well done officials).

The best part of this whole thing is that we live to see the next round. The semi's against either Saprissa or Olimpia will be exciting. It has already been determined that we will host the first leg on March 15th, so go get your tickets if you haven't already.

Cheers,

15 to 32

FORZA REAL