MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Comeback Falls Short In 2-1 Loss At San Jose

May 31, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Saturday, May 30, 2009) - Real Salt Lake finally got the road goal it was looking for, but a single tally wouldn't be enough for the Utah side, which allowed a pair of scores by the San Jose Earthquakes early in the second half that led to a 2-1 defeat in front of 10,153 fans at Buck Shaw Stadium. The tally for Real Salt Lake (3-6-2, 11 pts.) was registered 10 minutes from full time by FW Robbie Findley, who remained in a tie for second in MLS by notching his sixth goal of the campaign, but the Earthquakes (2-7-2, 8 pts.) would use goals 11 minutes apart by Cornell Glen (52') and Arturo Alvarez (63') to build a lead that proved insurmountable.

For a complete recap of tonight's match, please visit www.MLSnet.com.

RSL Match Notes:

- With Findley's tally, Real Salt Lake finally ended its road goalless streak at 529 minutes, which marked the second-longest such streak in club history (record of 573 minutes set in 2005).

- The Findley goal also stopped RSL's 349-minute overall scoreless streak dating back to the dying minutes of the 2-2 draw at Los Angeles on May 6, putting to rest the third-longest such stretch in team history (record of 577 minutes also set in 2005, followed by a 370-minute streak in 2007).

- In contrast to the 4-5-1 formation Real Salt Lake unfurled in its last two road contests, the Utah side began tonight's match in its customary 4-4-2 formation for a ninth time on the season.

- Spearheading the RSL two-forward attack this evening was a pair of Argentine strikers getting their first starts of the 2009 season - Luis Miguel Escalada, who was making his first-ever MLS start, and Fabian Espíndola, whose last start came during his first stint with RSL last Sept. 6 (at Los Angeles).

- DF Chris Wingert also made his return to the starting XI after a one-game absence in place of DF Tony Beltran, who was scratched from the starting line-up before the game due to a right quadriceps strain suffered during practice late in the week (Beltran was available off the bench).

- The center of the RSL midfield will look drastically different for next Saturday's Rocky Mountain Cup affair against the Colorado Rapids, as, after receiving yellow cards in the 28th and 70th minutes, respectively, captain Kyle Beckerman and playmaker Javier Morales will be forced to watch the rivalry match from the bench. Both midfielders saw the fifth yellow cards of the season tonight at San Jose and will serve a mandatory one-match suspension from the MLS Disciplinary Committee for caution accumulation during next weekend's contest.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP

On the team's overall performance:

"I'm obviously very happy with the three points. I thought our performance was good; it was a very mature performance. We've worked a lot the last two weeks, being solid as a unit and we're trying to be difficult to break down."

On the win:

"We needed to win this game tonight and we won it. I think that the guys really showed character to play like they did under pressure. I feel that I have turned the screws a little bit and they have responded really well as a group. They never quit, I'll always say that about this team and the players we have. To me it's important."

On Cornell Glen's debut and first goal for the Earthquakes:

"Cornell has quality in his finishing; I think it showed in his goal. He has a way to go to be match fit, but I felt we should give him a run up there. I think Cornell knows the game and knows where to be. On the goal, it was a great ball and great run by Mike (Zaher)."

On Mike Zaher's performance at left-back:

"Mike is an attacking left back, he's a confident kid. He gets an A+ for his first game, I think he was terrific. Again, it's not easy playing out there, it's a big stage. You can get nervous. I think he handled it very well."

EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CORNELL GLEN

On first game as a member of the Earthquakes:

"I actually was a bit nervous going onto the field tonight, but 10-15 minutes into the game I got going especially with a lot of help from my fellow teammates. They talked to me a lot during the game, helping me out on the field and they made things much easier."

On his first goal with the 'Quakes:

"Scoring tonight was a big highlight for me. Mike (Zaher) put in a spectacular cross and I just took advantage of the space Real Salt Lake gave me. We have been practicing these drills all week and we were lucky enough to be put into a similar situation and are happy to have taken the chance well."

EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ARTURO ALVAREZ

On the game:

"It was a great game for us tonight at home and we were happy to come out victorious. We needed a victory like this. As a team we played really well, we took plenty of shots and took advantage of our goal scoring opportunities."

On his 63rd minute goal:

"I had a good ball from Bobby (Convey) across the field. I had a few players on me and took a chance to get through them and got that goal I've been wanting for some time but in the end all that matters is the three points we needed."

EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER MIKE ZAHER

On his first assist:

"Bobby (Convey) threw in the ball to me, luckily I had enough space to trap the ball set myself up and look for Cornell (Glen) in the box. He did a great job finishing the opportunity, and it felt good to get the team on the score sheet."

On the result:

"Tonight was a huge victory for us. We came out strong both defensively as well as offensively and earned the result that we've been looking for. Now it's up to us to build on this good result and move forward as we focus on Dallas this upcoming week."

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