Real look to clinch vs. rival Rapids

SANDY, Utah -- Clint Mathis has seen both ends of the spectrum in his pair of stints in a Real Salt Lake uniform.

Mathis was with the club in its inaugural season -- when RSL's playoff hopes were extinguished well before the final month. Now, after rejoining the Utah team during its stretch run this time around, he stands on the brink of seeing history and feels excited at the possibilities ahead.

"It would be great to be part of a team making its first playoffs," Mathis said. "You never know what could happen if we get there."

To finally reach that milestone, RSL must come away with at least a draw when it hits the road to face Colorado on Saturday. The stakes are always high for each combatant in the annual Rocky Mountain Cup. But so much more is riding on this single game than in any from past seasons.

A win or tie for Real clinches the third seed from the Western Conference and sends them to the playoffs. A loss, on the other hand, will catapult the Rapids right past their archrival and leave RSL sitting home with the sting of knowing they missed out on reaching the playoffs by the slimmest margin.

It adds a new dimension to a rivalry where extra incentive to secure a victory is not needed. Still, RSL players acknowledge that Saturday's game will mean more with something greater than pride on the line.

"It's definitely going to be heated," defender Chris Wingert said. "But, more than anything, it's going to be heated because of the playoffs, not because of what has gone on in the past."

Indeed, Real values clinching a playoff berth much more than simply locking down bragging rights for a second consecutive season in the quest for the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Veterans like Mathis, Wingert and midfielder Kyle Beckerman -- who have suited up for both sides -- have even gone to great lengths to insist the rivalry isn't infused with the same degree of venom and meaning to them than what fans assign to these games with Colorado. "In the past, the rivalry was all there was to play for," Beckerman said. "This game, it will just be what it is. It's a playoff game pretty much. It's great that we'll get that cup. But it's a bigger thing when that's the only thing you're playing for."

When RSL takes the field against the Rapids, they will be at full strength for the first time in several weeks. Oft-injured stars like Dema Kovalenko and Fabian Espindola are fully healed from recent injuries that sidelined them. Nat Borchers is expected back from the neck strain that sidelined him against FC Dallas last week.

For RSL coach Jason Kreis, it means he will have a host of tactical options to consider on who he starts and who he brings in as a substitute and what formations he will use against Colorado.

"It will be the first time in a long time I can remember that we have everyone in consideration for the 18 and everybody in consideration for the starting 11," Kreis said. "There's going to be some difficult choices to make."

While the stakes are high for RSL in this match, the outcome is equally important for the Rapids on several levels.

Real cost Colorado a playoff berth with their 1-0 road victory in the 2007 season finale to claim the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time. For the Rapids, revenge would be twice as sweet because they are more than simply a spoiler.

A win this time would not only take back the Rocky Mountain Cup, but thrust Colorado into the MLS Cup Playoffs over their resurgent rivals.


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Crew dash United's playoff hopes

COLUMBUS -- In a game with everything on the line against the Columbus Crew, D.C. United could not get the ball across the goal line despite a dominating performance Sunday and their 1-0 defeat at Columbus Crew Stadium put the New York Red Bulls into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Needing a victory against Columbus to secure the last playoff spot in the last game of the MLS regular season, D.C. hit the framework three times during a scoreless match then watched Crew midfielder Brad Evans lace a strike from 30 yards that nicked the inside of the left post and continue to the back of the net in the 77th minute.

Kansas City's win Saturday against New England wrapped up fourth place in the Eastern Conference and simplified D.C.'s mission: win or go home. D.C. was trying to usurp New York for the final playoff position and a move to the fourth slot in the Western Conference to meet two-time defending MLS champion Houston.

Just prior to Evans' winner, Thabiso Khumalo, who had been on the field three minutes, missed a prime chance to give D.C. the lead. The ball was on his foot six yards in front of the goal after a mad scramble from a corner kick. His powerful strike on the turn hit the crossbar, came down in front of the goal line, then was cleared.

Columbus was luckier. Evans took a pass from Frankie Hejduk with a clear run straight toward goal. He got behind the ball with his left foot and drilled it past a diving Louis Crayton. The ball glanced off the inside of the left post and moments later Crew fans were chanting "No more playoffs" to D.C. and its supporters.

The Crew received the Supporters' Shield for having the most points in the league in a postgame ceremony. United won it last season but a 2-11-2 road record was one reason it did not qualify for the postseason.

D.C. outshot the Crew 19-10 and had four of the six attempts on goal.

United coach Tom Soehn made two changes from the lineup that beat New England Oct. 16. Bryan Namoff started for defender Gonzalo Peralta and midfielder Fred went in for forward Thabiso Khumalo.

Columbus finally returned to a full lineup after fielding less than half its starters in a 3-1 loss at New York on Oct. 18 that ended a nine-game unbeaten streak in its first match after clinching the Supporters' Shield.

William Hesmer returned to goal after sitting for the first time in 49 matches. Defenders Hejduk and Chad Marshall, midfielders Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven and forward Alejandro Moreno also reclaimed spots in the first XI.

Luck was not wearing United's white uniforms in the first half as they twice hit the left post and could not get the ball to bounce into the goal.

The second opportunity came in stoppage time when Luciano Emilio was sent through and forced goalkeeper Hesmer to challenge for the 50-50 ball at the right edge of the penalty area. Emilio got there first and took several dribbles before bending the ball toward the open goal. He missed scoring by inches as the ball smacked the pipe to end a frustrating 45 minutes for United.

D.C. nearly struck first in the 13th minute when Bryan Namoff was unmarked six yards off goal to receive a corner kick from the right from Marc Burch. Namoff's header from the near post whistled past Hesmer before finding the far post and falling away.

The visitors played like a desperate team with aggressive play at both ends, taking the only four shots and both corner kicks through 33 minutes. The Crew finally got a shot when Chad Marshall headed a free kick by Guillermo Barros Schelotto but it was deflected out of bounds.

United dominated everywhere but the scoreboard in the opening half with 10 of the 13 shots and the lone one on goal by Emilio in the 18th minute. D.C. led in fouls, 7-3, and had the game's two cautions.

Columbus didn't test Crayton until the 52nd minute when Brad Evans sent a low liner from 35 yards that was easily stopped. A minute later, Burch was issued a yellow card for a hard tackle on Guillermo Barros Schelotto and in the 54th minute forward Jaime Moreno replaced McTavish, a defender, to start D.C.'s final push for the playoffs.

Moreno was alone when the ball rolled to him at the top of the box but his strike went over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Fred was on target four minutes later from 18 yards but Hesmer did not have to move to make the save. In an exchange of forwards, Khumalo replaced Francis Doe for D.C. in the 70th.

The Crew was attired in all black at home for the first time this season instead of its traditional yellow. They are 1-1-1 in the dark uniforms.

The Crew will travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards on Sat., Nov. 1 in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.


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Wizards clinch berth, may lose Wolff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Thursday was a good news, bad news day for the Kansas City Wizards.

The Chicago Fire's 5-2 win against the New York Red Bulls on ESPN Primetime Thursday means the Wizards are guaranteed a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs as a wildcard. But they might have to do without forward Josh Wolff for their last regular season game on Saturday in New England and the duration of their playoff run.

The injury has been labeled a fibular stress reaction in his lower leg. Basically, it's similar to a stress fracture, "but not quite to that point," according to Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo.

"He got a knock a couple of months back, and it just got progressively worse and worse to the point where before the New England game (on Oct. 11) it was a game-day decision because he wasn't able to train," Onalfo said. "He was able to go play (in that match), but he took a turn for the worse after he played. It's one of those things. He's in lots of pain."

After returning to Kansas City in mid-July following a year and a half at 1860 Munich in Germany, Wolff has tallied three goals and three assists in 12 games helping to rejuvenate the Wizards attack.

"It wasn't good news to hear. Josh is important to the team. Everyone sees the stuff he does for us offensively, and also defensively he works hard, which maybe a lot of people don't see," said Davy Arnaud, Wolff's closest friend on the team. "Having said that, we have to move on. Injuries happen, and we have to deal with it. And we have to go out there and get results."

Wolff sat out the Wizards' dramatic 3-2 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday, witnessing Claudio Lopez's masterful goal and two assists performance at forward in his stead.

"A lot of guys are ready to step in when needed. Last week Abe [Thompson] and Claudio did a great job up there, and Ivan [Trujillo] was ready when Abe went down [with an abdominal strain]," said Jack Jewsbury. "We have 18 guys ready for the game. You never know when your number is going to get called, so everybody's got to be alert and ready."

Thompson is ready to go for Saturday, but the Wizards remain hopeful Wolff will be ready soon.

"That's why we have depth," said Onalfo. "It's unfortunate, but we're going to stay optimistic that [Josh] will heal quickly and be able to contribute at some point down the line."


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Hoops frustrated with result

SANDY, Utah -- When FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman entered the dressing room at halftime against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, he knew his team needed some kind result for their playoff chances to remain intact.

Heading into the match Dallas was a point behind Real Salt Lake in the standings, who were sitting in the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Hoops were already playing a man down at the break with goalscorer Marcelo Saragosa getting sent off just a half hour into the match. Before seeing two yellow cards, Saragosa put Dallas in the lead with a goal in the seventh minute. But, just minutes after he left the game, FCD gave up that lead on a Yura Movsisyan goal in the 35th.

Up until his team went a man down Hyndman felt his players were on the right track to win. But the ejection of Saragosa changed everything.

"It started off great with the first goal," said Hyndman. "And then we picked up a silly yellow [from] Marcelo, and then the second yellow put us a man down, and gave them a chance to do what they wanted to do and score a goal. From then on it was just trying to play at altitude and trying to find a way to score."

The hardest part to swallow for Hyndman is that one of his goals he stated to his team is to finish the game at full strength -- 11 players on the field. With the playoffs on the line he knew that emotions would be running high during the match, and he wanted his players to be the ones in control.

"This was a must-win game for us, obviously, and that's the frustrating part," said Hyndman. "One of the things we said, we go on the field with 11 players, we come off with 11 players. We knew emotions were going to be quite high here, and we weren't able to do that."

The uneven matchup of numbers on the field was difficult, but striker Kenny Cooper said that Hyndman made sure his team would be prepared for such situations.

"It's something we've prepared for in the past," said Cooper. "Schellas is great in that he doesn't leave a stone unturned. So, it's not a situation we're unfamiliar with. It's something we practice a lot on training."

Playing with 10 men made Dallas much more vulnerable defensively. The added space made the remain players have to work harder to cover more ground, and that began to wear on the FCD players like Victor Sikora, who was getting a start in place of the suspended Andre Rocha. Hyndman was pleased with Sikora's effort, but needed to insert some fresh legs late in the match as he brought on Dominic Oduro for Sikora in the 70th minute.

"I thought he did fine," Hyndman said of Sikora. "He just ran out of gas, he was working awfully hard on both sides of the ball, and that made it a little bit difficult. We were in desperation. Going with three in the back, and trying to get fresh legs up front. Trying to get some speed up there and make something out of nothing."

The last two goals from Salt Lake in the second half came from a combination of problems. The added room from playing a man down didn't help, but neither did the fact that FCD needed to equalize. The Hoops pushed desperately for goal as their time was running out, which opened even more space behind the Dallas defense.

"It really doesn't matter," said Hyndman. "It doesn't matter whether we lose 2-1 or 10-1. What we were trying to do was get a goal and try and salvage the season."

With the loss, in combination with New York and Kansas City each winning their matches, FC Dallas are now mathematically out of the playoff race. Hyndman heard of the other results from around the league when his team came into the dressing room at halftime, but he opted not to tell his players the news.

"Yeah, I didn't share it with the players, but I know that we would be eliminated if we didn't come out with a result," said Hyndman. "We went into a 4-4-1 trying to get a tie and then maybe try and get a win next week. At the same time, once we were down, we were just throwing everything forward."

With little more than pride to play for next week against the LA Galaxy, Cooper tried to put a positive spin on their final game of the season.

"We just got to keep our heads up and stay positive and move forward," said Cooper. "It's disappointing result, but we still have another game to play in the regular season, and hopefully that one will go our way."


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Real Salt Lake open stadium with draw

SANDY, Utah -- Amid dreams of opening its new stadium in grand fashion, Real Salt Lake came away with a result that felt less than satisfying -- especially for a team trying to reach the playoffs for the first time.

For the second week in a row, RSL earned one point instead of three, battling to a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium on MLS Primetime Thursday.

The honor of scoring the first goal in the latest soccer-specific stadium fell to New York's Dave van den Bergh, who put the Red Bulls ahead in the 31st minute. But Jamison Olave knocked home a corner kick late in the first half for the equalizer. The Red Bulls were forced to play the final seven minutes a man down after Juan Pietravallo was sent off.

The tie left both teams with 36 points, and each sitting in fourth place in their respective conferences -- but with the rest of the league still to play over the weekend.

RSL had its first good scoring opportunity in the seventh minute on a free kick by Javier Morales. The kick was set up when Seth Stammler was shown a yellow card for tugging on the back of the shirt of Yura Movsisyan as he threatened to break away. Morales had a clean look at the net and had enough power behind his shot, but the ball rocketed just to the right of the far post.

Morales tried to get something going off a free kick again in the 17th minute. This time his shot was perfectly on frame, but Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway wrapped up the ball anyway.

New York didn't enjoy much early success in their offensive third either.

Mike Magee drilled a shot with his right foot off a throw-in by Kevin Goldthwaite. RSL 'keeper Nick Rimando came up with a nice catch to keep it from turning into anything important.

Magee then came up with a nice header after setting things in motion with a corner kick during the 23rd minute, but Rimando was in perfect position to a fantastic sprawling save and tip the ball wide of the post.

The Red Bulls finally took the lead in the 31st minute when van den Bergh capitalized on a corner kick. The ball was sent into the box and Stammler put his header right on target, beating Rimando's dive. Kyle Beckerman was perfectly placed to head it off the line -- but sent it right to van den Bergh, who rocketed a full-blooded drive on the rebound into the back of the net.

Movsisyan tried to answer on the other end. Beating the high Red Bulls defensive line, he raced in alone on goal, drawing out Conway while he dribbled around in the area. He rounded the goalkeeper and sent his shot toward goal, but it bounced off the shin of New York defender Jeff Parke who had slipped in behind the Red Bulls 'keeper.

With the sellout crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium desperately waiting for a reason to explode, the moment finally came in the 42nd minute. Morales swung a corner kick toward the center of the area. The ball took a bounce and Olave put a foot onto it and looped it over Conway into the back of the net.

It marked the 15th career assist for Morales in an RSL uniform, which helped him surpass teammate Andy Williams as the club's all-time assists leader.

RSL's first solid chance at taking a second-half lead came in the 54th minute when Morales found Will Johnson on the run. Morales laid it down to Johnson just as he penetrated into the far side of the area. Johnson uncorked a strong right-footed shot, but Conway knelt down to make the save.

Morales then had back-to-back corner kicks in the 56th minute. Both times, the ball bounced back his way instead of traveling to the intended teammate in front of the six-yard box.

Several shots for RSL as the second half moved on increasingly were off frame. Movsisyan, Johnson and Clint Mathis each took a turn going either wide left or wide right for Real.

The most stinging of these off-frame misses had to be Beckerman's would-be dagger in the 71st minute. After Morales and Movsisyan had difficulty creating a shot in the penalty area, the ball was cleared back out to Beckerman. He launched a line-drive rocket from 25 yards out, but the ball sailed just inches over the crossbar.

While RSL struggled to finish, the Red Bulls struggled to even create shots. Real held New York in check throughout the second half. They gave up no shots on goal after allowing five during the initial 45 minutes.

The task became even tougher in the 83rd minute when Pietravallo was sent off by referee Terry Vaughn after his high kick in midfield caught the top of Clint Mathis's head and left him bloodied and in need of medical attention on the touchline. But RSL were not able to break through.

RSL will play their second game in their new home next Saturday, when they play host to FC Dallas. The Red Bulls return home where they will take on the Columbus Crew.


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Reserves lead Quakes past CD FAS

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- On a night when the San Jose Earthquakes were intent on using their depth, their reserves delivered, defeating Club Deportivo FAS of El Salvador 2-1 Tuesday at Buck Shaw Stadium, Mikel Arce and Jovan Kirovski scored in the first half, while Alejandro de la Cruz countered in the second half for the visitors.

With a mammoth game against Chivas USA on tap for this Saturday, San Jose manager Frank Yallop opted to rest all of his starters. FAS were by no means at full strength either. The visitors were missing no fewer than five players due to Salvadoran national team duty, including captain Alfredo Pacheco, while three other players were left at home due to injury.

Both sides displayed some decent approach work early on, but precision in the final third was lacking. FAS midfielder Josue Flores won a free kick 30 yards from goal in the fifth minute, but his subsequent attempt at goal was easily scooped up by San Jose goalkeeper Mike Graczyk.

FAS began to assume greater control, and nearly went on top in the 19th minute. A cross from the left wing by de la Cruz was deflected by Graczyk in the box, but Quakes defender Jamil Roberts, with some help from Ryan Cochrane, cleared the danger.

Amid some confusion, the Quakes went ahead against the run of play in the 25th minute. Davide Somma picked out Arce in the box, who backheeled the ball past FAS 'keeper Jose Gonzalez. The play was initially judged to have been offside, but after consulting with his assistant, referee Edvin Jurisevic allowed the goal, and San Jose was ahead 1-0.

FAS tried to up the tempo, and the visitors appealed for a penalty in the 33rd minute when de la Cruz went down in the box, but Jurisevic was having none of it and waved play on.

San Jose responded five minutes later with Somma springing Arce on a clear breakaway, but the Spaniard could only hit a tame shot that was saved by Gonzalez.

The home side didn't have to wait much longer to add to their tally. Shea Salinas broke free down the right wing in the 42nd minute, and his inch-perfect cross was nodded home by Kirovski to make the score 2-0.

Yallop brought on Michael Ghebru in place of Matt Hatzke to start the second half, and the German made his presence felt in the 49th minute, winning a penalty after a mistimed challenge from a FAS defender. Ghebru spurned the resulting spot kick however, smashing his attempt off the crossbar.

Emotions boiled over shortly thereafter when de la Cruz was laid low by a late challenge from Kirovski. A scuffle involving most of the players from both teams broke out, but order was soon restored with Kirovski earning a yellow card.

The incident served to crank the intensity up a notch, and FAS nearly pulled a goal back in the 55th minute, but Graczyk was on hand to deny Oswaldo Mendoza from point-blank range.

The hour mark saw a flurry of substitutions with Michael Gustavson replacing Graczyk in the San Jose goal, while FAS brought on Hector Avalos, Carlos Aparicio and Jose Solis. The fresh legs saw FAS control possession, with most of the play going through the feisty de la Cruz, while San Jose were looking dangerous on the break.

Yet it was the visitors who finally made a breakthrough in the 77th minute. Aparicio's free kick from the left wing found de la Cruz wide open in the box, and his glancing header left Gustavson with no chance.

Somma nearly made the game safe for the home side in the 83rd minute, but his blast from 14 yards hit the base of the post. Ghebru corralled the rebound, but was unable to get a shot off and the danger was averted.

The same fate befell Somma just four minutes later. Arce slotted home the rebound, but this time, the assistant referee's offside call stood, keeping the score 2-1.

de la Cruz had one final chance in the 88th minute, skipping up the endline on the left wing, but his centering feed was cleared by Roberts.


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Twist of fate pays off for De Rosario

HOUSTON -- The Houston Dynamo have to be thinking that fate was on their side after pulling out a last-minute win against San Francisco FC Tuesday night in CONCACAF Champions League Group B play.

Sure, they might have been the favored team in the 2-1 win at Robertson Stadium. But until Dwayne De Rosario beat Carlos Valdes in the 88th minute, it looked like just another draw for the Orange.

Emotions shot from one end of the spectrum to the other in a matter of minutes, as Chris Wondolowski's bid for a second goal deflected off the post followed by De Rosario's 25-yard unassisted shot that beat a screened Valdes for the final margin.

Fate, you ask?

Had De Rosario not received a yellow card in the Canadian national team's last match against Mexico -- when leaves him suspended for the team's match against Honduras this weekend -- De Rosario would have been representing his country instead of with the Dynamo Tuesday night.

That yellow card in a 2-1 loss Sept. 10 at Tuxtla Gutiйrrez, Mexico, sealed his fate as a substitute for Nate Jaqua in the 78th minute Tuesday night. And the rest, as they say, is history.

But his thoughts were not centered on winning the game right away. No, De Rosario -- perhaps more used to having been on the field from the start -- worked his way into the limelight in the team's first home game in exactly one month.

"Mainly I have to just slowly work myself into the game," said De Rosario. "I know the time was short right there, but when you come into the game that late, you have to make the most of every opportunity you are given to you.

"The main thing for me was to go out there and put the other team under pressure and get them back on their heels again ... I thought their defense was a little 'leggy' at that point, and my job was go out there, get the ball wide and keep pressure on. Eventually, I knew something was going to open up."

Even after Wondolowski scored early in the match, the Dynamo had many opportunities to extend their lead. But just like so many times earlier in the season, the team was forced to work around one near miss after another.

But as the game wore on, and after a poor start to the second half yielded their opponents' only score, the Dynamo looked like a team prepared to do what they have done all season.

Rebound, score late, and somehow get the win or tie when logic said otherwise. Tony Caig's miscue -- playing out too far on a chip shot by Temistocles Perez in the 47th minute -- did not leave the team rattled.

It just set up what has become the norm for the Men in Orange.

"Really, though, I think it is just the attitude and the character of these guys to just play to the end," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "I don't know how many games this year that we have won or tied by scoring late, but it has been quite a few.

"And whether or not we are behind or are ahead, I always think we try to play the same way. I think their goal did stun us a little bit, and I don't think we started the second half really well. Their goal definitely caught us by surprise, and the game really appeared to be destined for a tie."

And it was until De Rosario picked the proverbial pocket of San Francisco defender Alberto Blanco -- in the split-second that Blanco took his eye off De Rosario -- and sent a stunning shot into the net. For a split second, it did not look like De Rosario's teammates could believe what just had happened.

"I saw when (Blanco) got the ball he wasn't really looking behind him," said De Rosario. "I kind of snuck up on him, got the ball and as soon as I turned, I saw that I had some space in front of me. I kind of pushed it to the side and I saw that the goalie was screened a little bit.

"I tried to pick (the top right corner), hit it and thankfully it went in the back of the net."

With the win, the Dynamo moved into a first-place tie in Group B with Pumas UNAM. Both teams have five points with a 1-0-2 record. Pumas takes on CD Luis Angel Firpo at home on Thursday, then the Mexican club travels to Robertson Stadium to take on the Dynamo on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The teams played to a wild 4-4 draw last week in Mexico City.


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