MLS Real Salt Lake

RSL Reserves Down BYU in Stadium Opener

July 17, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


In Tuesday night's stadium opener, the BYU Cougars found themselves in a sticky situation facing the Real Salt Lake Reserves. The MLS Western Conference leaders brought out a couple of starters for the sell-out crowd of 3,110 fans.

Numerous mistakes and a handful of communication errors led the BYU side to drop the exhibition to the professionals, 3-0. Forward Robbie Findley netted two in the first half, and forward Quinny Vairela would net the final score a few minutes before game's end.

"Everybody's excited for a stadium like this," BYU coach Chris Watkins said. "It was an exciting match; a great way to kick off the stadium. It was electric, but unfortunately, it shook some of our kids for the first 40 minutes. I don't blame them, though; I was pretty nervous, too."

Robbie Findley got RSL on the board for the first time in the 30th minute, knocking a blast dead center past BYU goalkeeper Brandon Gilliam.

Midfielder Tony Beltran held the ball for a shot from inside the goal box, but after too many Cougars got in the way, a back pass to Findley gave the forward his first score.

Findley thought the "electric" atmosphere and the fan showing helped both teams perform well.

"The stadium looks great and we're glad to be a part of the opening," Findley said. "The fan support was good, and we appreciate how excited they are about soccer."

Two minutes after netting his first goal, Findley found the back of the net again. This time, he blazed 50 yards down field to blast the ball past Gilliam and give RSL a security blanket.

A long clear shot from RSL keeper Kyle Reynish bounced to the midfield line, picked up a touch from Reserve midfielder Kenny Cutler, then soared over the heads of the BYU backline to Findley's feet.

"The defense stepped up to the half-line, and I don't think they saw me so I took off," Findley said. "It was a great ball through, and I just had to finish it. The coaches keep telling me to use my speed and it works out well for me."

In the 37th minute, forward Kenny Deuchar put his dome on the ball for what looked like an easy RSL goal. But the ball sailed just high, skimming the crossbar and falling over the net.

The Cougars pulled Gilliam in the 39th minute, opting for a backup keeper. The backup proved himself well two minutes later, when Deuchar headed, full speed, toward the net. But a dive in front of the Scottish forward sent the ball flying far enough to the right for midfielder Britton Osborne to clear it from danger.

"We wanted to play everybody. We didn't have to win this game, unlike Friday, so we didn't want everybody to be tired," Watkins said. "But for the last goal, it was a mistake; a pretty big one. But that was just one of a thousand today ... so we shouldn't hold it against [the goalkeeper]."

BYU would go through four goalkeepers before the official blew the final whistle.

By halftime, the Cougs had only posted one shot, none on goal, compared to four RSL shots on goal, leading to a 2-0 early deficit. RSL would make a key substitution, removing Findley, but the damage was done.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, BYU stepped up offensively to try to net one in. But the RSL defense withstood the test of time, and stopped the PDL prospects every time.

"I was pleased with the second half, when our young players went after them," Watkins said. "I thought they were very successful, considering the facts. Even though they weren't successful that often, the attitude they brought was pretty successful."

BYU midfielder Jordan Cushman saw one of the best Cougar touches of the night in the 57th minute. Picking up a cross to the left side, Cushman kicked a rocket past Reynish that inched over the crossbar, to the dismay of BYU fans.

RSL countered in the 63rd minute after a BYU defender stumbled while picking up a midfield stop. Forward Alex Nimo pounced on the mistake, bolting down the field before stumbling himself 25 yards from the net to save BYU goalkeeper Quin Shepherd from attempting the save.

BYU's Brent Jensen got into a minor scuffle with RSL midfielder Matias Mantilla in the 82nd minute when the Argentine threw down a controversial slide tackle against the midfielder from Salt Lake City. Failing to capitalize on the ensuing penalty kick, Mantilla was the one to easily head out the Cougs' best chance to score in the second half

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