July 21st, 2007 RSL vs Everton

RSL wins 2-0
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Real pick up friendly win vs. Everton

(by Peter Richins realsaltlake.com 7-22-07)

SALT LAKE CITY -- Against an English Premiership side that featured U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard, Real Salt Lake earned a rare victory Saturday.
A 2-0 win against Everton FC, sure to boost Real's spirits when the Major League Soccer regular season resumes, kept RSL's 2007 record in international friendlies clean. With wins against Fiji, China and Everton, Real are 3-0 this season against the rest of the world.

Real Salt Lake played energetically in the opening minutes, and it led to some solid attacking moments. Howard was made to work to keep the ball out of the goal in the sixth minute when Alecko Eskandarian pushed the ball over to Kyle Beckerman, who took a 15-yard shot that Howard deflected wide, though not wide of the goal. Chris Wingert chased it down, looking to hit home the rebound, but Howard recovered and smothered the ball.

Everton's attack grew stronger as the first half wore on. The team from Liverpool earned itself a number of dead ball chances at goal, and between James Beattie and Phillip Neville, they looked dangerous in moments.

But Real had the better opportunities. In the 27th minute, Real goalkeeper Nick Rimando sent a long ball high down the right sideline to Robbie Findley, whose tight control brought him around an Everton defender, only to shoot right at Howard.

Seconds later, Eskandarian dropped a corner kick from the right next to the far post. Carey Talley's head came out of nowhere to put the ball into the back of the net and RSL had a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.

It just got better for the home side. Less than a minute later, Andy Williams played a brilliant through ball to Findley, who charged into the box and shot the ball over Howard. The former MetroStars 'keeper had left his line to challenge and laid himself out to make a save, but Findley's shot bounced off the inside of the left post to give Real a 2-0 lead.

Through the rest of the first half, Real continued to put pressure on, but also found themselves in pain on the turf often enough. Chris Wingert and Daniel Torres each spent time writhing around on the newly-installed grass field at Rice-Eccles Stadium. And Findley seemed to be somewhat shaken just before halftime when coach Jason Kreis replaced him with Kyle Brown.

Taking advantage of the many substitutions available to each team, Kreis replaced all four of his defenders as well as Rimando at halftime. Kyle Reynish replaced Rimando in goal, and Chris Lancos, Ritchie Kotschau, Willis Forko and Jack Stewart each came in on the back line.

The defenders looked good at the start. In the 52nd minute, Leon Osman volleyed the ball from the right sideline to near the far post, where Beattie was waiting for a one-touch shot on the ground. Reynish, however, was all over it.

Kreis gave another three players a chance on the field in the 61st minute -- midfielders Kenny Cutler, Atiba Harris and Christian Jimenez each came on to the field. Then, in the 67th minute, Kreis replaced his last starter, Eskandarian, with Dustin Kirby.

The reserves, many of whom have seen first-team action in Major League Soccer play, acquitted themselves well from the outset. Kyle Brown got the ball out to the right side to Chris Lancos, who shot it long and low towards the far post but missed by inches.

The pressure only got tighter against Everton's rearguard. Brown had a short-range shot from the right that bounced off Howard to Harris on the left; Harris' shot also bounced away, this time off an Everton defender. Seconds later, Lancos had a shot from the right that flew just wide of the far post.

Real also got lucky on its defensive end, as Stewart tackled Everton's Victor Anichebe from behind in the box at one point. At any other time, the play likely would have given Everton a penalty kick, but the call was not made and Real held their 2-0 lead until the end.