SANDY -- It was a season that began with many questions.
While it ended abruptly, and to Real Salt Lake's coaches and players, too early, it finished with the answer to most of those questions.
"You can't take away all the stuff that we did this season," said RSL boss Jason Kreis after his team bowed out of the MLS playoffs against FC Dallas on Nov. 7. "Yes, we don't have a chance to repeat as MLS Cup Champions, but my goodness, we've done so many incredible things this year and no one can ever take that away from us. The things that stand out to me are to play Cruz Azul home and away and beat them in that series -- it was hugely important."
After stealing into the playoffs in the 11th hour during the 2009 Major League Soccer campaign, Real Salt Lake ignited in the postseason and rolled to the MLS Cup. It was an accomplishment dismissed by many as a fluke, giving Kreis and the RSL technical staff all the ammunition it would need to push the Utah-based MLS side to previously unseen heights.
"All of the contributions by how many players this year?," Kreis said. "To watch the highlight DVD the other night and see almost 14 players on our team scored goals this year and contributed in such meaningful fashion. It was amazing just to see the way the guys bought into what we're all about here, even the new guys. I'm so thankful for all the things those guys have done every single day in training and every single match this year."
By nearly every quantifiable measure, the 2010 campaign saw Real Salt Lake not just become one of the elite teams in Major League Soccer, but arguably the standard by which teams within the league held themselves to.
RSL led the MLS in goals scored with 45 strikes in 30 games, highlighted by Alvaro Saborio's 12-goal debut season. Saborio, who was named as the MLS' newcomer of the year, also added six goals in RSL's six-game CONCACEF Champions League group.
On the other end of the field, Real wasn't just good, it was arguably the best defense ever in the MLS. RSL allowed just 20 goals, a Major League Soccer record, had a club-record 15 shutouts, with starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando earning 14 of those. Real's Jamison Olave was named as the defender of the year by the MLS, edging out teammate Nat Borchers for the honor.
Olave, Borchers and sensational central midfield playmaker Javier Morales were all named to the MLS's Best XI team.
It addition, RSL also set team records for wins, fewest losses, most points, home wins and road wins.
Real will return to action in early February in preparation for the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League, where the team will meet league rival Columbus for a berth in the competition's semifinal round.
Also, major decisions will have to be made in regards to keeping the team intact. Forward Robbie Findley has been exploring overseas options and Saborio's loan from FC Sion runs out in January, with the club looking to keep both players in a Claret-and-Cobalt uniform.
Comments