Ned Grabavoy proved to be the unlikely hero for Real Salt Lake on Sunday night.
The 30-year-old midfielder scored two goals, his first finishes since October 16, 2010, to lead RSL to a 4-1 rout over Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center. In between Grabavoy's strikes were goals from RSL midfielder Joao Plata and forward Robbie Findley, while Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Villafaña scored for the Goats.
The good times have apparently evaporated for Chivas USA.
The team's 3-1-1 start back in March seems to be a distant memory, and Real Salt Lake further rammed that point home on Sunday night at the Home Depot Center, as Ned Grabavoy's brace along with goals from Robbie Findley and Joao Plata paced RSL to a 4-1 road win over Chivas USA.
Two of the league's best face off on Sunday as the Los Angeles Galaxy visit the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.
In the only meeting between the two clubs, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane look to build off their terrific performances last Wednesday in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union.
On Wednesday, May 15, Robbie Russell announced he is retiring from soccer and will enroll in Georgetown University's Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program. Listen to the veteran defender discuss his plans for life after MLS.
RELATED: Read Steven Goff's article on Russell's retirement
Sandy, UT Real Salt Lake have been bolstered this week by the return of some key players who were missing due to injury.
Both forward Alvaro Saborio and defender Nat Borchers were full participants in training on Wednesday, opening speculation as to whether or not they will feature this Sunday against Chivas USA.
Walker Zimmerman made his first appearance for FC Dallas Saturday, 113 days after being selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. The Furman product came on as a late sub in the club's 2-1 victory over DC United.
The centerback had sustained a groin injury in the preseason and his recovery had taken longer than originally expected.
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee was busy this week handing out suspensions to four different players around the league.
The Committee announced on Wednesday one-match suspensions to Chivas USA defender Mario de Luna, Vancouver Whitecaps defender Johnny Leveron, Colorado Rapids forward Edson Buddle, and Real Salt Lake defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe.
The New England Revolution and the New York Red Bulls drew 1-1 tonight in front of 16,440 rain-soaked fans at Gillette, Diego Fagundez with the Revs goal and Lloyd Sam with the Red Bulls goal. The draw leaves New England with a record of 2-4-4 for 10 points and New York at 6-4-2 for 21 points.
After Wednesday's disappointing home lose to Real Salt Lake, Revs coach made a couple of changes bringing in Cisse and Imbongo in their familiar 4-1-4-1 formation.
In a back-and-forth match that saw Matteo Ferrari play both the goat and the hero, the Montreal Impact were able to dig a little deeper and scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure the 3-2 win against RSL.
After deflecting a Lovel Palmer strike up and over goalkeeper Troy Perkins into the back of the net in just the 7th minute of the match, Ferrari found himself with one last chance to put his earlier blunder behind him.
When Matt Pickens fractured his arm in a mid-March match against Real Salt Lake, no one would have imagined the 31-year-old might lose his starting job while recovering. But his replacement, Clint Irwin, might not relinquish the spot after an exceptional run that has seen him shut out opponents in three of his last five matches.
The New England Revolution could not hold onto a 1-0 lead and coughed up two late goals in losing to Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Gillette in front of 8,040 fans. The Revs got a phantom penalty call in the 90th minute, but Saer Sene missed with what is one of the worst penalties you will ever see.
For long periods of the game, New England controlled the game.
The Pitch Pass goalkeeper trend continues when Colorado Rapids 'keeper Clint Irwin joins the show to discuss his career and the current season. In the second segment, TV soccer analyst Brian Dunseth calls in to go around the league.
Follow @ClintIrwin on Twitter | Follow @OriginalWinger on Twitter
Sandy, UT Real Salt Lake was hurting for some goals.
Star forward Alvaro Saborio is out with a quadriceps strain. His replacements, Robbie Findley and Olmes Garcia, were both questionable heading into the match, forcing manager Jason Kreis to play two newcomers in Joao Plata and Devon Sandoval up top
Kreis' gamble paid off as Plata lead RSL to a 2-0 victory over the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
One of the bright spots for the LA Galaxy this season has been the play of 18-year-old Jack McBean, who has played in all seven league matches so far this season. But McBean's season has been derailed after suffering a broken collar bone in a collision with Real Salt Lake centerback Nat Borchers.
Real Salt Lake and U.S. National Team goalkeeper Nick Rimando joins the show to talk music, soccer, and more. In the second segment, Portland play-by-play man John Strong checks in to discuss Timbers and MLS.
Nick Rimando is enjoying his time in Utah and talks candidaly about life in Salt Lake and the possibilty of his wife, Jacqui, returning to her playing days.
Real Salt Lake learned the hard way last Saturday what it is like to play without forward Alvaro Saborio. Now, it looks like they'll have to get used to him being on the sidelines.
According to a report out of Salt Lake City, Saborio is likely to miss "several weeks" as per quotes from RSL manager Jason Kreis.
The Vancouver Whitecaps got two late goals to prevent an embarrassing loss to FC Edmonton in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals. Trailing 2-1 for the majority of the match, Vancouver scored the tying goal in the 84 minute off a Camilo penalty kick.
As many expected during the pre-match buildup, Saturday evening's clash between Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA came down to the play of the clubs' high-caliber goalkeepers.
Kennedy made four impressive saves but was frozen on a well-placed header from RSL's Javier Morales.
In front of more than 18,000 fans, the Houston Dynamo set a new standard for home dominance in Major League Soccer with their historic win against the Chicago Fire. Behind a solid performance from captain Brad Davis (1 goal, 1 assist), the Dynamo beat the Fire 2-1 to set a new MLS record for a home unbeaten streak.
As you'd likely guess, there's a lot going on here that is beyond me. That's not to say I would call the coach's selection is poor - but it's definitely begging a few questions. G - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)D - DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting KC)
And there it is. Jurgen Klinsmann going wide and expansive with his camp roster next week. The roster dominated by the return of golden boy Stu Holden and no place for Steve Cherundolo (or Carlos Bocanegra).
GOALKEEPERS (6) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.
Ryan Guy scored the Revolution's lone goal on Wednesday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)
Despite a good effort, the New England Revolution lost to a smart Real Salt Lake team last night 2 to 1. As Jeff Causey said, RSL went into the game playing for a point but came out with three.
Ryan Guy celebrates his goal. (Photo: Kari Heistad/CapturedImages.biz)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Ryan Guy gave the New England Revolution a second half lead, but Real Salt Lake stormed back with goals from Devon Sandoval and Olmes Garcia to steal a 2-1 victory from Gillette Stadium in front of 8,040 on Wednesday night.
The veteran Real Salt Lake goalkeeper saved yet another penalty kick, his MLS career-leading 19th penalty kick save, to protect a lead in the final minutes of a 2-1 RSL comeback victory at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night.
This week's slate of MLS games includes everything from cripple fights to top-of-the-table clashes. The weekend starts off with two doses of the former, as the Philadelphia Union host Toronto FC and the New England Revolution travel west to take on the Seattle Sounders. I've deliberately overlooked the other 4:00 game today: Vancouver Whitecaps vs.
Minnesota United FC claimed top of the table on Saturday despite drawing 2-2 against the Carolina RailHawks, which saw United lose a 2-1 lead late in the game.
RailHawks' Jordan Graye opened up the deadlock, heading-in a high cross in the 40th minute.
Happy Thursday, ladies and gentlemen. Today's edition of Freedom Kicks leads with more of what you've come to expect from D.C. United employees and their club website.
Previous matches provide building blocks | D.C. United
"With the right mentality and the right intensity, we can build.
To the surprise of no one, MLS suspended Alan Gordon for three games for using a gay slur in Sunday's loss to the Portland Timbers. Since the incident, Gordon has been unable to sleep and apologized to Robbie Rogersthrough Steven Lenhart.
US Soccer has released the potential match-ups for the third round of the 2013 US Open Cup tournament after coin flips this morning to determine the pairings. The Fire will play the winner of the match between the Seattle Sounders U-23 (PDL) team and the Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro). That game will be played on May 21 in Charlotte.
Our home team may have been off this week, but there's still a lot to get into in Fantasy Focus. First, we simultaneously recognize the overall and weekly leader, Stallions FC, who scored 94 points and rose to first place overall with a total of 682 points. Graham Zusi (SKC, $10.3M) captained the team and earned 28 points.
SANDY, Utah- Real Salt Lake will be focused from the opening whistle when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Rio Tinto Stadium this Saturday. After coming out flat against the LA Galaxy and conceding two goals in the first 13 minutes, RSL is ready to put that game behind them and move forward.
"How much are you gonna spend on a ticket son?" "Not enough" (Photo courtesy: MLSReserves.com)
Alex Olshansky with Part I of II on assessing franchise value in MLS(Twitter) (Blog)
Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen recently stated in a Salt Lake Tribune profile of him: "One thing that's black and white: I will never make money running this.
No Robbie Keane. No Landon Donovan. No problem for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Bruce Arena's side was missing its two designated players, as well as regular starters Carlo Cudicini and Todd Dunivant, but it didn't seem to matter as the reserve players deputized on Saturday stepped up and helped deliver an impressive victory that keeps the champions rolling toward the top of the Western Conference.
Landon Donovan and Jack McInerney stole the headlines over the weekend and deservedly so as both put in man-of-the-match performances for their respective teams. But lost in the glitz of LA's marquee matchup and Jack Mac's two goals was the strong play of another young striker out in Utah.
