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MLS Preview: Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake
Champs Columbus Crew look to show their swagger and pick up first win despite depleted personnel. Upstarts Real Salt Lake look to establish dominance in new home and gain first points of the season.
Apr 1, 2009 3:24:21 AM
As early season contests go, this Thursday’s match at Rio Tinto Stadium between Real Salt Lake and Columbus Crew has a surprising amount on the line. No, this is not a “make or break” match for either side: playoff spots are not in the offing, and neither coach is on the hot seat. But there is an elevated sense of pressure for both clubs.
The Crew is unbeaten, having managed draws in its two contests during this infantile 2009 MLS season Those results would be acceptable for most clubs, but for the reigning MLS Cup champions expectations are high. In addition, the recent tie with Toronto was laced with disappointment as Columbus seemed to have the game in the bag before a late own-goal off of the head of Gino Padula.
There is also pressure on the organization to show that current coach and former assistant coach, Robert Warzycha, can step right in and fill the void created by the offseason departure of Sigi Schmidt to Seattle. A successful season, and particularly a strong start, may ease some of the pain felt by the Crew faithful at Schmidt slipping off to Seattle all too easily.
Real Salt Lake may not be the reigning champions, but reading some of the preseason hype from various media outlets you’d hardly have known it. For a team that finished 10-10-10, albeit with much promise, they received a pretty strong endorsement from the media as one of the preseason favorites in the west and in the league as a whole. Now RSL finds themselves in uncharted territory: one of high expectations. Their hometown fans will be anxious to see how they respond on Thursday after losing their opener in the hostile environs of Seattle’s Qwest Field.
Aside from the mental battles associated with the weight of the pressure that is on each club, there will plenty of interesting battles on the pitch.
Argentines in the Middle
Neither of these teams can be adequately discussed without mentioning their Argentine engines. In the case of Columbus, that comes in the form of Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The crafty midfielder is the force behind the Crew’s attack. Last season he netted 7 goals and 19 assists on his way to becoming both the league and MLS Cup MVP.
Lining up opposite him will be Javier Morales, who sprang onto the scene last season with his 6 goals and 15 assists. The younger Morales, 28, admired Schelotto in his native Argentina, “I have his jersey like a trophy.” However, admiration goes out the window when the two meet on Thursday.
Both teams like to keep possession of the ball, and this battle may dictate the outcome of this game. Real Salt Lake attacks with a lot of movement and fluidity with Morales, Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman and Clint Mathis weaving all over within their “diamond formation”. The style is very much a linking style, helping the team to build the attack.
Columbus has a slightly different flavor, using the speedy Robbie Rogers on the wings (when healthy) and utilizing the skills and athletic ability of Emmanuel Ekpo. When the ball gets in the final third, it often finds its way to the feet of Schelotto, who is known for spectacular passing, pinpoint shooting and excellent set pieces.
The Keys
This match seems to have three key elements that will impact the game:
Finishing. Simply put, the team that takes care of its chances will likely come out on top. The Crew has demonstrated a much stronger track record in this regard.
Home Turf. Grass actually. Real Salt Lake dominated at home last season, only losing once in its 15 regular season matches before picking up an additional loss to the Red Bulls in the playoffs. However, only two of these matches were in their new home at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Who’s available? Real Salt Lake has injuries to defenders Ian Joy and Robbie Russell. These limited the options in their opener and 2nd year player Tony Beltran struggled in the first half of that match. Russell might be available for this match, and could help re-solidify the stout defense from a year ago. On the Columbus side, Duncan Oughton, Frankie Hejduk and Moreno may all be missing due to call-ups from their respective national teams this week. In addition, Pat Noonan is out, and Rogers is nursing a sore hamstring but may see some action.
Prediction
Real Salt Lake take it 2-1 over the Columbus Crew with a boost from the home crowd in a very competitive match from start to finish.
Randy Davis is a regular contributor to Goal.com.
The Crew is unbeaten, having managed draws in its two contests during this infantile 2009 MLS season Those results would be acceptable for most clubs, but for the reigning MLS Cup champions expectations are high. In addition, the recent tie with Toronto was laced with disappointment as Columbus seemed to have the game in the bag before a late own-goal off of the head of Gino Padula.
There is also pressure on the organization to show that current coach and former assistant coach, Robert Warzycha, can step right in and fill the void created by the offseason departure of Sigi Schmidt to Seattle. A successful season, and particularly a strong start, may ease some of the pain felt by the Crew faithful at Schmidt slipping off to Seattle all too easily.
Real Salt Lake may not be the reigning champions, but reading some of the preseason hype from various media outlets you’d hardly have known it. For a team that finished 10-10-10, albeit with much promise, they received a pretty strong endorsement from the media as one of the preseason favorites in the west and in the league as a whole. Now RSL finds themselves in uncharted territory: one of high expectations. Their hometown fans will be anxious to see how they respond on Thursday after losing their opener in the hostile environs of Seattle’s Qwest Field.
Aside from the mental battles associated with the weight of the pressure that is on each club, there will plenty of interesting battles on the pitch.
Argentines in the Middle
Neither of these teams can be adequately discussed without mentioning their Argentine engines. In the case of Columbus, that comes in the form of Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The crafty midfielder is the force behind the Crew’s attack. Last season he netted 7 goals and 19 assists on his way to becoming both the league and MLS Cup MVP.
Lining up opposite him will be Javier Morales, who sprang onto the scene last season with his 6 goals and 15 assists. The younger Morales, 28, admired Schelotto in his native Argentina, “I have his jersey like a trophy.” However, admiration goes out the window when the two meet on Thursday.
Both teams like to keep possession of the ball, and this battle may dictate the outcome of this game. Real Salt Lake attacks with a lot of movement and fluidity with Morales, Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman and Clint Mathis weaving all over within their “diamond formation”. The style is very much a linking style, helping the team to build the attack.
Columbus has a slightly different flavor, using the speedy Robbie Rogers on the wings (when healthy) and utilizing the skills and athletic ability of Emmanuel Ekpo. When the ball gets in the final third, it often finds its way to the feet of Schelotto, who is known for spectacular passing, pinpoint shooting and excellent set pieces.
The Keys
This match seems to have three key elements that will impact the game:
Finishing. Simply put, the team that takes care of its chances will likely come out on top. The Crew has demonstrated a much stronger track record in this regard.
Home Turf. Grass actually. Real Salt Lake dominated at home last season, only losing once in its 15 regular season matches before picking up an additional loss to the Red Bulls in the playoffs. However, only two of these matches were in their new home at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Who’s available? Real Salt Lake has injuries to defenders Ian Joy and Robbie Russell. These limited the options in their opener and 2nd year player Tony Beltran struggled in the first half of that match. Russell might be available for this match, and could help re-solidify the stout defense from a year ago. On the Columbus side, Duncan Oughton, Frankie Hejduk and Moreno may all be missing due to call-ups from their respective national teams this week. In addition, Pat Noonan is out, and Rogers is nursing a sore hamstring but may see some action.
Prediction
Real Salt Lake take it 2-1 over the Columbus Crew with a boost from the home crowd in a very competitive match from start to finish.
Randy Davis is a regular contributor to Goal.com.
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