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Real Salt Lake Rusty In Scoreless Draw

Kreis blames complacency for subpar showing.

Jun 26, 2010 1:16:00 AM

By Jeremy Horton

More On : Real Salt Lake, San Jose, USA

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Alvaro Saborio, Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake, MLS (Chris Nicoll, Goal com)

SANDY, Utah -- There was a time in the not too distant past that Real Salt Lake would have been content with a point at home against the San Jose Earthquakes. Well, that time is gone. Head coach Jason Kreis was visibly unhappy with the way his team played in a listless performance, resulting in a 0-0 draw, and he was quick to place the blame on one thing: complacency.

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"The whole night tonight it was a team that felt like we have arrived," said Kreis. "It felt like all we had to do was show up on the field tonight and we would be given three points."

Such stinging criticism might sometimes lead to a locker room mutiny, but probably not in this case, as the players echoed exactly what their coach said.

"I think the team thought for sure we were going to get the three points," said goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "We were overconfident."

It's more than a little ironic that Rimando would speak of that, because he was clearly RSL's man of the match. He made eight saves - several of the spectacular variety - to earn his 65th career clean sheet, a mark good enough for fourth all-time in MLS history. In particular he was key in the dying minutes of the match, stopping Cornell Glen's effort from point-blank range, and robbing Javier Robles of a certain Goal of the Week candidate with a one-handed diving save. Rimando almost singlehandedly earned a point for RSL, and stole two from San Jose.

"Those were some saves I didn't expect to have to make," admitted Rimando.

Real's usual trademark attacking play let them down all night, which forced Rimando and the defense to earn the point. Salt Lake lacked effectiveness with the final pass, and on the numerous occasions where they did manage to get into scoring position, their finishing was poor. RSL managed 13 shots but only forced Jon Busch into one save.

"I think there was a little rust [from the long break]," said midfielder Andy Williams. "We just weren't getting the final touch. We were all too slow, and the long layoff didn't help."

"We just weren't on our A-game today," said Rimando. "All around the park, I think we could have all done better."

Of all the sins a soccer team can commit, one of the most unforgivable ones in the mind of Jason Kreis is that of overlooking an opponent. It's a topic he's sure to address in the upcoming week as RSL prepare for a July 2nd tilt with the New England Revolution.

"We will try to remind the guys, in a lot of different ways this week, who we are and how we got to where we are right now," said Kreis. "And it wasn't by showing up on the field and being handed three points."

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