Harry Keough, who died Tuesday at age 84, was part of what many regard as the greatest upset in soccer history.

Keough was a defender on the U.S. national team which scored a 1-0 victory against England in the 1950 World Cup.

Keough had one goal in 19 appearances for the U.S. from 1949-57, and started all three games for the Americans at the 1950 World Cup. He was named captain when the U.S. played Spain in the World Cup opener.

Keough, a native of St. Louis and father of Ty Keough, was featured in the 2009 soccer documentary "A Time for Champions," a look at the U.S. upset victory over England and his coaching career at St. Louis University.

martyr@sltrib...

Real Salt Lake is looking for a few dozen good singers.

From an observer's standpoint, here's hoping the vocalists sing quickly and without vocal gymnastics.

Anyway, RSL is holding its third annual tryout for national anthem singers, set to take place Feb. 10 between 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 11 between 10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Rio Tinto Stadium's Budweiser Club Real restaurant on the second floor.

Tryouts are open to all area singers and musicians. RSL seeks to fill spots for all 17 of its MLS regular season contests plus potential Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

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...

After losing nine players in the off season, Real Salt Lake filled out its roster with four more players in Tuesday's 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

RSL had two first-round picks, using the No. 6 selection to grab midfielder/forward Andy Rose of UCLA. With the 17th pick of the first round, RSL drafted forward Emiliano Bonfigli of Manta FC (Argentina).

With the 17th pick of the second round, RSL grabbed forward Oliver Kupe of Northwestern. In Round 3, RSL looked to San Martin, Peru for midfielder Benjamin Ubierna.

RSL passed on its fourth-round selection. RSL, in the SuperDraft and Supplemental drafts, added seven players to its roster.

Rose, 6-foot-2, Fi...

It's way, really way, too early to expect that Real Salt Lake's first-round draft pick Enzo Martinez will contribute anything more than another body on the reserve squad. However, all indicators from the Chapel Hill, N.C., area is not only a quality player, but a terrific person off the pitch as well.

Martinez, 21, is an attacking midfielder who was expected to go higher in the draft. The 5-foot-7 junior for the 2011 NCAA champions was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, but immigrated to Rock Hill, S.C., when he was 10 years old.

Take this comment from a reader:

"I'm a Rock Hill resident and close friend of the Martinez family. You guys are getting not only an incredibl...

Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis are Duke products, so the selection of North Carolina product Enzo Martinez was an occasion for Lagerwey to receive some good-natured ribbing during a conference call following Thursday afternoon's 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Although the odds of Martinez actually contributing are long — one can count on one hand the number of collegians drafted by RSL who have taken the field — Lagerwey was enthusiastic about the chances of Martinez doing well.

Lagerwey used words like "giddy" and described All-American as humble and outstanding.

Martinez, age 21, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, but immigrated to Rock ...

Of course much of the attention Thursday was on Real Salt Lake's draft selections. But there was more.

Sandy’s Jacob Hustedt was taken by the San Jose Earthquakes in the second round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

The Quakes used the 25th pick of the draft on the Jordan High School graduate, who was named All-Pac 12 Conference last fall after scoring six goals in his only season with the Washington Huskies. Hustedt was the Class 5A Most Valuable Player as a senior at Jordan in 2007 — the Beetdiggers won back-to-back state titles in 2005 and 2006 ­­— and played his first three collegiate seasons at Cal Poly, before transferring to Washington...

Real Salt Lake joins the largest field ever to compete for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup features an assortment of strategic changes, including a 64-team field, as the competition begins first-round action on May 15.

This year's U.S. Open Cup eclipsing the previous record of 42 teams set in 2005 and 2006.

All Division I, II and III professional clubs, including the 16 MLS teams in the United States, will participate in the tournament proper for the first time ever. There will also be 32 amateur entries.

The championship takes place on either Aug. 7 or Aug. 8.

According to U.S. Soccer, in the first...

Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey doesn't expect any of the team's three picks from Thursday's MLS SuperDraft to make an immediate contribution.

The impact of this draft might not be known for several years, but RSL will be mighty pleased if it manages to grab another player on par with Collen Warner, a player taken in 2010 but eventually lost to Montreal in this year's expansion draft.

RSL's first pick comes at No. 17 in the first round. It has two more in the second, including No. 24. Lagerway predicted that true impact players will be long gone by RSL's turn.

"College kids will likely add depth for the future," Lagerwey said via a telephone call from...

Real Salt Lake defender Ned Grabavoy will reportedly be part of the team for the next three years. Grabavoy signed a three-year deal, the last a club option Monday.

Grabavoy came to RSL after being released by San Jose in 2009. He scored the winning penalty kick on Nov. 14 of that year against the Chicago Fire to give RSL its first conference championship and first trip to the MLS Cup final.

"I couldnt be happier to have the opportunity to continue my career with Real Salt Lake," Grabavoy said. "This is one of the proudest moments of my career.

"I'm excited to find myself in a great situation for continued success. I want to thank ownership, management, and my coac...

No doubt, Real Salt Lake fans have plenty of opinions about which way RSL should go during the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, which takes place Jan. 12. Real has the No. 17 (first round) and No. 24 (second round) picks.

RSL is actually picking lower than it did after winning the MLS Cup in 2009. The draft is scheduled for 10 a.m. (MT) on ESPN2 and ESPN3.

With a solid and talented starting lineup, RSL will look to acquire depth in this year's draft.

The MLS Combine kicks off on Friday with live coverage of all the matches on MLSsoccer.com.

Those in the know believe RSL will have these choices (with opinions):

Tony Cascio (MF/FW), UConn — After attempting to ...

Real Salt Lake's first MLS game of 2012 is in the same venue it's 2011 season ended.

RSL, which begins its eighth season, opens this year March 10 at 8:30 p.m. (MT) in The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Salt Lake's home schedule begins March 17 at 7 p.m. against Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls.

This season, Real Salt Lake will be featured on four national broadcasts on the NBC Sports Network (July 18 at Seattle; Aug. 24 at Philadelphia; Sept. 22 against Portland; and Oct. 6 at Los Angeles).

To check out the entire RSL schedule, go to www.realsaltlake.com/schedule.

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...

Voting has begun for the 2011 Best of U.S. Soccer and Athlete of the Year awards, thanks to U.S. Soccer.

There are awards for the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year — Male, Female, Young Male, Young Female — as well as the 11 categories comprising this year’s Best of U.S. Soccer. Voting takes place on the U.S. Soccer’s Page on Facebook.

Online votes for the Athlete of the Year awards are equivalent to 50 percent of the total votes. As in years past, the other 50 percent will be represented by votes compiled from members of the national media and U.S. Soccer representatives (from national team coaches to the National Board of Directors).

U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of t...

Injuries to Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers during Real Salt Lake's first playoff game with Seattle might have been the final straw during the team's emotional and physical roller coaster season.

"It just felt like this just isn't going to come together for us," said RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey during part one of a six-part interview session with RSL Insider Brian Dunseth at www.realsaltlake.com.

In the first episode, Lagerwey looks at Real Salt Lake's positive early start to the season, the support RSL received nationally for its CONCACAF Champions League run — "April we played our Super Bowl — as well the loss for much of the season of midfielder Javier Morales.

“Welcome to your grave.”

Those were the supposedly intimidating words of an English-speaking Monterrey fan hovering outside the parking lot gate where the Real Salt Lake team bus and the media caravan – a few taxis behind the police escort – entered the Estadio Tecnológico.

But despite those menacing words, this did not feel like the hostile road environment you’d expect at the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League finals in Mexico.

The first leg of CONCACAF Champions League finals, described as a classic clash of Mexico vs. MLS, has been selected by MLSSoccer as "The Game of the Year" in its "Best of 2011" list.

Check out this thrilling gut check by ...

Between David Beckham's future plans and the upcoming SuperDraft, life has not been quiet during Major League Soccer's off season.

Although 19-year old Jason Banton represented England at the U-17 level, the ex-Arsenal, Blackburn and Liverpool youth Tweeted on Monday that he's been invited to participate in the MLS Combine in January.

Chivas USA had an opportunity to sign the 18-year-old forward in April, but decided to take a pass. In September, Banton joined League Two side Burton Albion on a one-month loan.

Also, according to MLSSoccer.com, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger might be seeking a possible loan for Red Bulls' Thierry Henry: "Short term is ideal for us...

Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando have been once again selected by U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann to be part of the squad’s annual January camp.

Joining Beckerman, who has become a mainstay during Klinsmann short time as coach, and Rimando betwee Jan. 3-26 in Arizona, California and Panama are RSL assistant coach Jeff Cassar and Arizona Academy Technical Director Martin Vasquez.

The U.S. squad will cap off the camp with a pair of friendlies, hosting Venezuela on Jan. 21 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., before traveling to take on Panama at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City four days ...

Rumors about the change of sponsorship from Xango for Real Salt Lake are just that, without a basis in fact.

In fact, according to RSL, the team will unveil the new 2012 jersey, complete with the Xango logo, in early February. The logo design will be different, but not the sponor.

In 2009, RSL agreed to an extension with energy food drink company Xango through 2013.

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...

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis took a break from scouting talent to offer MLSsoccer.com a few insights about the 2011 season, one that saw Salt Lake advance to the Western Conference Championship.

In what was easily tagged a roller coaster season, RSL lost its best player Javier Morales for the entire summer with a painful ankle injury, gloried through several winning and losing streaks before hitting the skids prior to the MLS playoffs.

Here are a few of the highlights from the interview at RealSaltLake.com.

About Morales: "...I would say that many of the things that he brings to our team have nothing to do with passes, shots, free kicks and those sorts of thing...

Three large dates are on the MLS calendar for January, including the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 12.

More than 60 NCAA Div. I college seniors and Generation adidas players show off their skills in hopes of future employment at the annual adidas MLS Player Combine between Jan. 6-10.

ESPN2 will broadcast the first round of the SuperDraft, starting at 10 a.m. (MT) at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The draft has been reduced from three to two rounds and 38 overall selections, with the Montreal Impact selecting first overall.

Because is was one of two teams eliminated in the Conference Finals, Real Salt Lake has the No. 17 first round pick....

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis recently returned from what was basically a fact-finding mission to Germany. It was also part of what appears to be a growing relationship with the U.S. National Team boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

It was Klinsmann who aided in RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman in joining FC Kaiserslautern for training sessions.

Also, Kreis, who led RSL to the third best record in MLS and the Western Conference Championship this past season, not only found a few ways to tweak his own training regimen but came away with more confidence.

"They are doing basically the same things that we’ve been doing here for several years,” Kreis said on ESPN 700. “It really kin...

How long has Major League Soccer been around. The son of a former player has joined the league.

The Portland Timbers recently Colombian forward José Adolfo Valencia as a young Designated Player.

Valencia, who made his pro devute at age 16, is the son of former Colombian national-team and MetroStars striker Adolfo “El Tren” Valencia. He went to Portland after playing for Bogotá-based club Santa Fe CD.

“José s a young player we've been monitoring for the last 12 months,” Timbers head coach John Spencer said on MLSSoccer.com. “He is powerful and quick and should be a nice complement to the attacking players we have with the club already. It is important to give him ti...

With a handful of departures and the team in need of reinforcements for 2012, Real Salt Lake have holes to fill this offseason. To that end, RSL's technical staff has gone abroad in search of new talent.

More bang for the buck is the Real Salt Lake philosophy when it comes to scouting and signing players. General manager Garth Lagerweymust fit a competitive squad inside his $2.81 million salary cap.

Coach Jason Kreis and his assistants are mining talent throughout South America, Asia and Europe as well as college players in preparation of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 12.

The draft has been reduced from three to two rounds with each of the 19 MLS teams selec...

Unlike several MLS teams, Real Salt Lake experienced a quiet Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday. RSL didn’t pick anyone from the pool of available players, nor were any of the team’s three players selected by MLS teams.

RSL did not pick up options for forward Nelson Gonzalez, defender Rauwshan McKenzie and midfielder Blake Wagner.
Former RSL forward and MLS’ all-time leading scorer Jeff Cunningham also finds himself without a team.

MLS champions L.A. Galaxy selected four new players and will to try and re-sign two of their own as they look to defend their MLS Cup championship in 2012.

All teams who selected players in the draft on Monday no...

Real Salt Lake's Luis Gil recently started for Generation adidas in its first match of a training and competition trip to Holland.

Corey Hertzog came in for Gil in the 44th minute. Meanwhile, a pair of late goals gave the Ajax reserve side a 4-2 victory over the visiting MLSers.


CLUB WORLD CUP

Real Salt Lake would have played J. League champions Kashiwa Reysol this Sunday had it defeated Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions League final back in April.

Mexico’s Monterrey beat RSL 3-2 on aggregate in the final of the CCL. Sunday's game in Toyota, Japan, is Monterrey's opening quarterfinal match of the 2011 Club World Cup.

The winner advance...

Does Andy Williams deserve having his number retired, his name and No. 77 joining his coach Jason Kreis on Rio Tinto Stadium's ring of honor?

Certainly, if a poll on Real Salt Lake's website means anything, a large percentage of RSL's fans believe "Bommadog" deserves the honor.

As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, more than 40 percent, 40.59 to be exact, favor retiring Williams' number to:

Andy Williams Night — 9.33 percent
Testimonial match — 20.79
Tribute song — 13.09
Statue — 9.82
Other — 6.38

What could "other" be?

Williams, along with Kreis, was a large part of RSL's evolution from the MLS dregs to league champion. Williams provided cont...

Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com took at look at former Real Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell's return to family life. Circumstances forced Russell and his wife, a lawyer in the Washington D.C. area, to live apart.

Now that Russell is with D.C. United, all is well:

“Even now that it has happened, I know my wife still looks over on the couch and is kind of like, ‘You’re here, that’s weird,’" Russell said. "I think once I’m here for a couple weeks, it’ll settle in that I finally made the move, it finally happened. There’s a lot of excitement around it and I’m happy to be around my family again.”

martyr@sltrib.com
Twitter:@Rsltribune

...

The Major League Soccer hot stove is hot with rumor and player movement.

Real Salt Lake will have a couple players training in Europe, including midfielder and U.S. international Kyle Beckerman, who will have a stint with FC Kaiserslautern.

Meanwhile, midfielder Luis Gil will join a group of 18 young MLS players who will begin training in the Netherlands as part of the Generation adidas tour. They will train with the Ajax club and will face Ajax reserves Thursday before playing Dutch second division teams FC Volendam and Almere City FC.

David Beckham continues to weigh his options. Will he return to the L.A. Galaxy or take a "substantial" offer from Paris-St. Germa...

Jean Alexander has the physique to be a quality MLS attacking midfielder. The San Jose Earthquakes have gambled that the former Real Salt Lake draft choice has the psyche as well.

RSL traded Alexandre, 25, a first round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, to San Jose for a first-round pick in the 2012 Supplemental Draft, which comes after the two-round SuperDraft.

“He’s the one who stood out for me on the [Re-Entry] list,” San Jose coach Frank Yallop told MLSsoccer.com. “One way to guarantee no one else gets him is to take him before the whole thing starts. We want to get players we like. To make sure we got him was important.”

Alexandre scored 34 goals in 69 games fo...

Will or won't Becks leave the L.A. Galaxy for French giants, Paris Saint-Germain?

There are two thoughts about David Beckham's future.

One, he's staying because Victoria and the four children are snug and comfortable in Los Angeles and, at age 36, Beckham has embraced MLS and his role as the GOMOTGOG (Grand old man of the grand old game). For sure, he enjoyed a great playoff performance in 2012 that led to this year's MLS Cup.

Second, there is the money and playing in Europe. Beckham also wants to compete for England during the 2012 Summer Olympics and it would be more convenient traveling back and forth from France to England.

Either way, Beckham impac...

Former teammates Tweet goodbyes to Real Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell, traded to D.C. United on Tuesday for a 2013 SuperDraft pick. Often, levity is the best medicine:

Chris Wingert — bummed to hear my man @RobbieRussell03 wont be with us this year, but im excited for him and the mrs! carpool wont be the same w/out u man.

Nat Borchers — Good luck to my pal @RobbieRussell03! DC not only has a new right back but they also have complete access to every movie ever made. #source.

Nick Rimando — @RobbieRussell03 one thing I won't miss is your iPad!

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...

Real Salt Lake doesn't know which team it will play March 17 for its MLS opener, but, depending on the CONCACAF Champions League schedule, the season opener will come nearly a month later than the past season's first match.

RSL and Columbus opened 2011 with a CCL game played Feb. 22. Real followed with two more matches by March 15.

It had been speculated that the extra games contributed to RSL's injury problems as well as to season-long inconsistencies.

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...

Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey recently disclosed the desired formula to keep the club in the hunt for a MLS Cup.

The process included being younger and cheaper.

The key dates for the process include the Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 5 and 12, the Adidas Combine between Jan. 6-10, the MLS Superdraft on Jan. 12 and the Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17.

Then there is coach Jason Kreis' annual trip to South America, journeys that have already produced the likes of Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola.

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...

Still have the dream of playing professional soccer? Does the fire to play still burn?

Real Salt Lake is looking for a few good men. RSL will host an open-invitation combine at the Grande Sports World facility in Casa Grande, Ariz., between Dec. 8-11. Last year, a few players were identified and signed, including RSL's first Homegrown Player signing Nico Muniz.

Try out under the watchful eyes of coach Jason Kreis and general manager Garth Lagerwey — as well as Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy Technical Director and U.S. Men’s National Team First Assistant Coach Martin Vasquez.

Players interested must send in a copy of their resume/CV to Freddy Juarez at fjuarez@gra...

Real Salt Lake lost two players Wednesday.

RSL lost midfielder Collen Warner in the MLS Expansion Draft, one of 10 players selected by the Montreal Impact during the draft. Also, goal keeper Tim Melia was placed on waivers. Melia, who didn't play in a regular-season MLS game, was 1-4-0 in the 2011 MLS Reserve League with a 1.32 goals against average.

Warner's loss might be keenly felt.

"There are a lot of veteran guys on RSL that I looked up to and that taught me how to be a professional, and I want to thank all of my teammates for their help over the last two seasons," Warner said. "I also want to thank the coaching and training staffs for their time and effort a...

There's support and then there's the heavy-handed kind, a really jock culture support through jesting insult.

Take Monday, one that saw Real Salt Lake release its unprotected list for Wednesday's expansion draft. Montreal has 10 picks from the 18 available MLS clubs.

Among the names RSL offered for the draft was Ned Grabavoy.

Offering his support for a teammate and friend via Tweet was RSL keeper Nick Rimando:

"Have to get this off my chest... Grabavoy is a terrible teammate, only thinks of himself and probably wouldn't even
make my high school team."

This led to some more exchanges, including:

"@NickRimando it would be really dumb fo...

A balanced schedule and a change in the Western Conference Championship format highlight Major League Soccer's competition format for the 2012 regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs.

Also, beginning next season, the MLS championship game will be hosted by the team with the most points in the standings. The addition of a 19th team, the Montreal Impact, had consequences on scheduling.

“We have established a fair and compelling format for the 2012 season,” said MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez. “This regular season will include more games between regional rivals and less total travel than we have seen in recent years. Because of the wide geographic distribution of ML...

Landon Donovan can't believe it has been since 2005 that the L.A. Galaxy won their last MLS Cup.

Beginning in 2001 with San Jose, Donovan lifted the championship trophy every other season. He followed 2001 with another in 2003 with San Jose and then 2005 with L.A.

The Galaxy missed the playoffs in 2007 and were beaten by Real Salt Lake in 2009.

“It feels longer, to be honest,” Donovan told reporters Saturday. “There were some bad years here and there’s been some good years, but we’ve had disappointing finishes to each of the last two seasons.”

TAYLOR TO START FOR DAVIS

Houston defender Jermaine Taylor will start for midfielder Brad Davis on S...

What is a Most Valuable Player?

Is a MVP someone who, in the same season, was traded twice, played on a three different teams and didn't qualify for the playoffs?

United. Major League Soccer did itself a disservice with the selection of D.C. United attacker Dwayne De Rosario as its MVP.

No doubts about De Rosario's offensive ability. His 16 goals and 12 assists made him the only MLS player to reach double digits in both for 2011. So, he deserved to win the Golden Boot.

But MVP? Good grief.

De Rosario began the season with Toronto and was dealt to New York and eventually D.C. What team was he supposedly most valuable for?

Houston's Brad D...

The Houston Dynamo enter Sunday's MLS Cup against the L.A. Galaxy as the heavy underdog.

But the underdog, according John Bolster of MLSsoccer.com, has a way of rising to the occasion in the championship, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. It will be shown on ESPN and Galavision.

Boslter ranks Real Salt Lake's victory against the Galaxy in 2009 as the biggest upset in cup history. His list:


1. 2009: Real Salt Lake 1, Los Angeles 1 (RSL 5-4 PEN)—Real Salt Lake squeaked into the playoffs on the last day of the season, dragging the stigma of a losing record (11-12-7) with them. They made the most of their postseason opp...

There's are myriad reasons for choosing Houston or Los Angeles to win the MLS Cup.

For nearly two weeks, the experts have picked apart both teams, looking at the defense and offense for Sunday's final, scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT) on ESPN and Galavision at the Home Depot Center.

Many doing the picking have appeared to make the Galaxy the obvious choice, for good reason.

Brad Davis is out for Houston and the Dynamo will suffer without their playmaker.

Yet, even if Davis was healthy, L.A. would still be the top choice. First, the Galaxy have not lost at home this season and, all MLS Cup formality aside, this is just another home game.

The most importan...

It's time to think like Real Salt Lake president Bill Manning and the rest of the team's front office. Which 11 players will RSL protect in the upcoming 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, which will take place on Nov. 23 for the expansion team Montreal Impact.

Like all teams, RSL will be allowed to protect 11 players as well as 17-year-old Luis Gil, a Generation Adidas player. Homegrown players Donny Toia and Nico Muñiz are also protected.

There are no-brainers. Nick Rimando, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Will Johnson, Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola. Who among Ned Grabavoy, Tony Beltran, Robbie Russell and Andy Williams will be left off the list o...

Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey almost guaranteed that the team will lose a player to the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, which will take place on Nov. 23 for the expansion team Montreal Impact.

Like all teams, RSL will be allowed to protect 11 players as well as 17-year-old Luis Gil, a Generation Adidas player. Generation Adidas players who have not graduated from the by the end of the 2011 season are not automatically protected.

So are Donny Toia and Nico Muñiz, who are “homegrown” players on the team's off-budget roster.

The protected 11 are just about set.

“It's not as difficult as you think,” RSL president Bill Manning said. “We pretty much kn...

It was difficult for Real Salt Lake to get past the disappointment of losing in the Western Conference Championship to the L.A. Galaxy.

Yet, there was a distinct sense of pride about finishing as the third best team in Major League Soccer.

“It's all about winning.,” RSL midfielder and captain Kyle Beckerman said. “We wanted it to be a special year, but it wasn't to be.

“If you get into the playoffs and get past that first round, you really feel close to the finals. I guess we'll just remember the way we feel right now. Build on it for next year.

RSL keeper Nick Rimando agreed that the 3-1 loss to the Galaxy felt a lot like the entire 2011 season compress...

Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave's grit and determination were on display for all to see during RSL's Western Conference Championship against the L.A. Galaxy.

Despite not at 100 percent, Olave still played 80-plus minutes and was a force inside the 18-yard box.

The 2010 MLS Defender of the Year was recognized again as he was named among the league named its top 11 players:

“Olave was an anchor for a Real Salt Lake defense that allowed the second fewest goals (36) in MLS this season. A towering presence with astounding closing speed, Olave also contributed two goals and an assist this season.”

The entire list is at MLSSoccer.com.

martyr@sltrib...

Real Salt Lake already had plenty of respect among fans of Major League Soccer. Yet, its performance in a 3-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy during Sunday's Western Conference Championship may have won the team even more respect and a few more fans.

Many are calling the game among the most entertaining of the postseason.

For example, take this from Simon Borg of MLSsoccer.com:

“Many are calling the LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake in [Sunday] night’s Western Conference Championship the best postseason game in league history for the emotions, the action and the way the match unfolded.

“The win meant more than you can imagine for LA manager Bruce Arena, who ...

Carson, Calif. — Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis wasn't 100 percent pleased with the play of his midfield, but he wasn't critical. Real did put four shots on target and had two bang off the post.

“It wasn't our best night, for sure,” he said. “We had chances for sure.

“I would question again how we were with the ball. There were a couple of spot where we didn't expect [to give up possession]...and then they're in transition in the break against us.”

RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman, one of the players to hit wood, his coming during extra time in the first half, thought the defense did a good job on LA Galaxy star David Beckham. However, when down a goal, RSL had to p...

Weather could be a factor in Sunday's Western Conference Championship between Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy.

It had rained earlier Sunday, but as of 2:30 p.m., it was partly cloudy and pleasant, probably with temps in the 60s. But it could get wet by game time, which is 7 p.m. (MT) and it will definitely be in the 50s as the teams play in the Home Depot Center.

The larger question surrounds the condition of center backs Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers. Will they start? Borchers looks to be more probable of the two.

“The fans of our league are seeing good soccer from both teams and are excited for the matchup,” RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said.

martyr@sl...

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis might say his two starting center backs are questionable for Sunday's Western Conference Championship clash with the LA Galaxy, but Bruce Arena is having none of it.

The Galaxy coach has game planned for Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers, both rehabbing quad strains that kept them out of Wednesday's playoff semifinal at Seattle.

“Any way Salt Lake lines up in the back they have a good group,” Arena said Friday during a conference call. “Borchers and Olave are among the best center backs [in MLS] and to be honest, I expect them to play.”

Meanwhile, Arena's midfield star David Beckham did not train Friday, recovering from his own knocks ...

How times have changed for Nick Rimando.

The Real Salt Lake goal keeper arrived in 2007 from D.C. United just in time for a complete club meltdown and a 6-15-9 record.

Now, RSL is playing in its third conference final in four years.

“To be completely honest, I wouldn't have thought [this would happen],” he said. “When I came in an saw where we were at and how we were playing, I didn't think we were going to be here at all.”

Rimando credits the coaching staff and front office for drastically improving the team, which won a MLS Cup in 2009.

“We've got that winning mentality now,” Rimando said. “Once you win that first championship, it's addicting.”<...

Real Salt Lake wants to win the MLS Cup.

But RSL also wanted to return to the CONCACAF Champions League.

The Los Angeles Galaxy's victory against the New York Red Bulls on Thursday moved RSL back into the international tournament, one that saw Real just miss winning this season. Salt Lake reached the championship round before losing to Monterrey.

RSL's berth to Major League Soccer’s “final four” also earned the team a place in the CONCACAF Champions League for a second time in three seasons. With Los Angeles already earning a spot in the 2012/13 edition courtesy of its 2011 Supporters Shield, and the two remaining American spots going to both of this year’s MLS Cu...