AFTER 15 MATCHES
goals scored: 18
shots taken: 202
finishing touch: 8.9%
min. requirement: 10%
difference: -1.1%

goals allowed: 19
shots allowed: 172
finishing touch: 11%
max. limit: 8.8%
difference: -2.2%

Our defense is still inching us closer to meeting our second goal (to get our goals-allowed percentage lower than our goals-scored percentage), while our offense—come back Espíndola!—has dipped away from the initial goal that we once were in command of (to shoot better than 10%). And we’re like 1.1% away from hitting the third goal, which I’m not even sure I remember correctly.

The result sets us up for an excellently meaningful match this coming Thursday against Houston. Right now we’re tied with them for 2nd place in the West. The winner of this game, if there is one, will leapfrog LA into 1st place, at least until Friday night. I’ve got a feeling there will be lots of XanGo employees out for this one (but hopefully not a lot of orange, since that’s the Dynamo’s color).

Speaking of the July 24 All-Star game. Real Salt Lake has 4 more games left before taking the All-Star Break (2 home, 2 away). I’m still optimistic that we can land on the right side of our goals by that time—it’s sort of an official deadline I keep. This coming Saturday it’s the Kansas City Wizards who will present the challenge on their home pitch.

Honestly though, I am pleased with Jason Kreis and RSL. After 14 games last season, we had only collected 1 victory and 9 points—this year we have 5 wins to the tune of 18 points. The boys have stepped up and I appreciate it.

AFTER 14 MATCHES
goals scored: 18
shots taken: 189
finishing touch: 9.5%
min. requirement: 10%
difference: -0.5%

goals allowed: 18
shots allowed: 151
finishing touch: 11.9%
max. limit: 9.4%
difference: -2.5%

First, I’m going to attribute the lowered percentage of goals allowed to Jamison Olave. He is fantastically reliable in the back, and deceptively quick. Next, I’m going to attribute the lowered percentage of goals scored to (the lack of) Fabian Espíndola. He’s a very useful striker, and it injures me inside to know he is injured.

So, that about explains the new numbers.

I may have oversimplified things there, but I haven’t forgotten the other RSL greats that have helped launch us into 2nd place out west: Morales is having a fine year, Findley is looking better (hope his head is okay), Andy Williams continues to impress with his holding abilities and Rimando is always doing his darndest to keep the ball out of the net.

I don’t really know how to cleanly segue from that macro-soccer euphoria to the microscope that I view Real Salt Lake with… so, we haven’t much chipped away at the scoring percentage goals (that I am more and more convinced are the correct barometers for soccer success). I feel bad for the team, working the way they’re working, and shooting 0-for-43 in their last two home games (both those numbers [the 0 and the 43] blow me away). Needless to say, that has been bad news for our percentage. On the bright side though, we shot 25% against Chivas (1-for-4!) and we haven’t allowed a goal in 3 games.

SEASON NUMBERS

goals scored: 16

shots taken: 170

finishing touch: 9.4%

min. requirement: 10%

difference: -0.6%

goals allowed: 17

shots allowed: 137

finishing touch: 12.4%

max. limit: 9.3%

difference: -3.1%

The common thought is that we could have done a lot more with the last three games (I don’t disagree), but we did come out with 5 points and 3 clean sheets. That is something if we can build off it. Really, all that’s left now is for us to collect another clean sheet this Saturday and rain down the goals that surely are our due. My prediction, based on the equanimity that should exist in the universe: Salt Lake 4-0 New England.

Joe’s and Eli’s famous Hawaiian Chicken occupied the outdoor grills, sending up delicious smoke signals and sizzling out a favorite summer tune. Real Salt Lake held a discount merchandise table next to the flavorful grillin’s, providing their best hookup for our soccer fans. All these immaculate attractions and other trimmings adjoined the XanGo Soccer Field, which was fully situated and straightened up for a rousing display of CXO soccer.

Leo officiated the two half-hour matches in his unorthodox and hands-on style, while the happy and hungry-no-more fans looked on (and sometimes laughed). Four teams faced off in two set matches that saw captains Nate Brown and Travis Ogden push their sides to victory. Sandy Coleman and Justin Banner were valiant, but vanquished nonetheless.

An impromptu international friendly followed when the attending Méxican distributors put together a ragtag team with intentions to take on Estados Unidos. Even their Jeans, khakis, collars and oxfords couldn’t keep them off the pitch.

The rumor mill is already whispering about an Ogden v Brown championship match at the next company BBQ. Spread it.

Nobody loves a 0-0 draw (I don’t think), but that’s not exactly what I want to talk about. There were many outcomes I would’ve preferred to 0-0… but somehow—even surprising myself—I enjoyed Real Salt Lake’s shots, none of which hit net. The Wizard’s keeper, Hartman, had himself a very respectable game (sometimes keepers do that—it’s their job) and we just went inches begging from a win.

The thing is, that’s exactly the type of game that will kill our (my) scoring percentage goals. Technically, we had the exact same scoring percentage as did the Wizards—RSL going 0 for 19 and KCW going 0 for 7 is 0% for both teams—but when we plug those numbers into the big picture, it alters that big picture to look like this:

SEASON NUMBERS
goals scored: 15
shots taken: 142
finishing touch: 10.5%
min. requirement: 10%
difference: +0.5%

goals allowed: 17
shots allowed: 122
finishing touch: 13.9%
max. limit: 10.4%
difference: -3.5%

This Saturday we resume the cause against our expansion rivals, Chivas, in LA. It hasn’t been the most welcome venue for RSL, but I’m ready for that to change.

PS—I like Findley taking strong cracks at goal with his new-found confidence.
PSS—I would really like to see Espíndola at full strength again, though.

SEASON NUMBERS
goals scored: 15
shots taken: 123
finishing touch: 12.2%
min. requirement: 10%
difference: +2.2%

goals allowed: 17
shots allowed: 115
finishing touch: 14.8%
max. limit: 11.1%
difference: -3.7%

I think I have a new benchmark to shoot for by the All-Star Break: Our goal-scoring difference (currently 2.2%) shall be greater than our goal-allowing difference (currently 3.7%). It makes sense to me. I hope it makes sense to you.

We’ll start with the Kansas City Wizards this Saturday, in Rice-Eccles, at 7 p.m.

I missed another good home-field victory (3-1 vs. San Jose) that included Findley’s game-changing tally in the 48th minute—a shot that earned him both the Goal of the Week and the MLS Player of the Week Award.

I linked it all up in case you missed it too.

Until then, a small sampling of the many devoted RSL fans who took the trip to Colorado for the last match: