Tonight we are all Salt Lake fans?

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 6:24 PM PDT in Sounders: CONCACAF Champions League

Since CONCACAF redesigned the Champions Cup into the Champions League MLS sides have struggled. Except for one, and with even a poor performance tonight they could still advance to the CCL final. They face former Sounders opponent Saprissa, down in Costa Rica, but start with a two goal advantage and no away goals against.

To get an MLS side in the CCL Final would be pretty big, or it should be, if more people cared about non-League soccer in America. For that reason I am kind of rooting for RSL (plus more non-League matches could harm their run in League play). Here in Seattle we have the advantage that Real Salt Lake is NOT a rival. In Colorado they are not on the #MLS4RSL bandwagon. Colorado is though, and there they will be rooting for RSL to fail. With no coefficients determining entries in future tournaments it makes sense.

This is your open thread if you are watching the game. FoxSoccer at 7PM, or www.concacaf.com (registration required).

Preview and Gamethread from RSLSoapBox.
Preview at SBN Soccer

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i'll be rooting for them.

i’m not really one for intense hatred of other teams either. plus it would be awesome to see a MLS team advance to the final.

by Scott Brandt on Apr 5, 2011 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed.

We should all root for MLS sides that get this far in international play, and support American soccer rather than just an individual side.

by BroadwayJoeFYVM on Apr 5, 2011 6:38 PM PDT reply actions

RSL putting out a typical lineup for them

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 6:44 PM PDT reply actions

Oh, and I pick titles carefully

I don’t think all Sounders fans want to see RSL win. And we know some Colorado fans don’t, maybe some LA/DC (as they have old CCC titles).

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 6:48 PM PDT reply actions

Damn straight

Go USA tonight.

by joesz on Apr 5, 2011 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

Go USA. Go RSL.

The stadium is rocking. Looks like a great atmosphere.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

CONCACAF stream...

no problems so far. Go RSL

by MMAWrestling on Apr 5, 2011 7:05 PM PDT reply actions

other than the announcer and the lack of clock, i agree

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Apr 5, 2011 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Announcer is much better

Than the ones from the group stage. At least he’s not confusing the players with one another.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions

He does have interesting pronounciations on some of the Salt Lake names...

Makes me wonder how bad he’s butchering the names of Saprissa’s players.

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Detest RSL, kinda like Saprissa.

Still rooting for RSL.

by Aaron Campeau on Apr 5, 2011 7:23 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I'm a little conflicted

I would still kind of like the Sounders to be the first MLS team to win the CCL in its current form, but if RSL going further in the tournament increases the profile of CCL, I am all for it.

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 7:36 PM PDT reply actions

Winning in Mexico would still be possible

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I have to say

The ref has been pretty consistent tonight. I was expecting the usual CONCACAF referring horror show.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 7:49 PM PDT reply actions

I swear I recognize this ref, does anyone know his name?

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions

He does look familiar

I can’t place him though.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

He called a game at the World Cup

From Mexico

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Apr 5, 2011 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I swear the CONCACAF ref pool is so shallow I'm going to know all their middle names...

…by the end of the season, between Gold Cup and CCL.

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Nuts

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 8:08 PM PDT reply actions

Yeap

Nothing Rimando could do but pick that one out of the back of the neck. RSL needs to get back into it mentally.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Anyone know the score/time?

La Vecchia Signora Forever!

by AKSupporter on Apr 5, 2011 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

RSL down 0-1

Not sure on the time, forgot to start my stopwatch

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions

At least the stream is working...

Without any hiccups. This is decent so far.

Anyone have ANY ideas as to the time?

by SounderEvertonRomaFan on Apr 5, 2011 8:15 PM PDT reply actions

The goal was when I posted at 8:08..

…and that couldn’t have been more than two minutes into the second half.

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions

RLS

just needs 1 goal to force them to get 3 more.

by gstommylee on Apr 5, 2011 8:18 PM PDT reply actions

Williams off for Grabavoy

Makes sense, Williams is pretty old.

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 8:20 PM PDT reply actions

You can't touch the Saprissa players with out they flopping on the ground

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 8:21 PM PDT reply actions

OLAF!

La Vecchia Signora Forever!

by AKSupporter on Apr 5, 2011 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

Wooo!

Away goal for RSL! Olave!

by ubelmann on Apr 5, 2011 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

yea that was pretty nice

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Amazing strike

You would have thought Olave was a striker.

by Dizzo on Apr 5, 2011 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Good composure for sure.

by MMAWrestling on Apr 5, 2011 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

That

should do it for RLS unless they completely collapse.

by gstommylee on Apr 5, 2011 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

76th minute for anyone who can't see the time

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 8:37 PM PDT reply actions

yah whats the deal with that, me and my roommate got back after halftime and didnt realize it was 0-1 Saprissa until RSL scored the equalizer, let alone the time

by AzVikeFan on Apr 5, 2011 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Concacaf is just lazy

and don’t put the score and time on their feeds. I can see it because I’m watching on FSC.

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

We were watching the Fox Soccer channel too and it didnt have it up there until like the 75th minute

by AzVikeFan on Apr 5, 2011 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions

they had it up during the first half...

not sure why it was down for the first 30 minutes of the second

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Happy for MLS

OK, I guess I’m happy for RSL, too. They’re so annoyingly good, with their fancy-shmancy high-altitude stadium.

Is it worth noting that two teams from our group advanced to the semifinals? Hopefully that can be us this go-round.

by Cornchops on Apr 5, 2011 9:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I can say I'm cheering for RSL

but I won’t be sad if they lose… because I think it would be even cooler for the Sounders (in a perfect world) to take their place as the first to win CCL…

by majora999 on Apr 5, 2011 10:11 PM PDT reply actions

A no brainer

I think supporting an MLS club against foreign competition is not only acceptable but should be encouraged. The exception should be if the MLS club is a rival, in which case I can understand indifference.

by prindi10002 on Apr 6, 2011 6:55 AM PDT reply actions