This is the first of some occasional entries by my seatmates in Section 214. This one is by Doug, a fellow Starbucks partner, decade plus friend and all around good guy. Welcome to his first installment. His own username will come soon. All mistakes in editing are my own, but the opinion is his.
As I was watching the replay of the match I was reminded of some things that had been gnawing at me during the match.
Montero was playing beautifully but also playing pretty, held on to the ball too long sometimes when he could have passed or shot trying to make it look pretty. This leading to him getting beat and missing chances to feed others who were wide open "cough cough Brad Evans!!!! cough". But when it works it is great and I loved watching him no matter what.
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My man of the match and quickly becoming my favorite player, Osvaldo Alonso, he has a motor that does not quit. Every time we were making a play on the ball or a run he was involved, he was the lieutenant to Kellers captain on the field
When Freddie cam in the game in the 60th minute he really seemed to elevate the play. Up till then the lads had been slacking a bit, something Sigi commented on after the game. The passing was suffering and Real was starting to really put some runs together. It was only going to be a matter of time before the would get lucky. Freddie just warming up seemed to get the crowd even more excited if that was possible. When he came in he automatically took heat from Beckerman and some of the other midfielders for Salt Lake. But slow he really asserted himself and showed some flashes of what is to come. For my money the real assist on Monetros goal was Freddie drawing 3 defenders and the keepers attention into the box to open up the shot.
As a side note I cannot wait to see Freddy and Zakuani on the pitch at the same time....that is future magic