Maybe pursuit of Supporters Shield won't be so tough for RSL, after all

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: March 15, 2012 11:06AM
Updated: March 15, 2012 04:24PM

We wrote during the preseason how big of a challenge it would be for Real Salt Lake to eclipse the defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy, and again today about the added level of difficulty presented by the unbalanced schedule.

But geez, maybe it won't be so tough, after all.

Four days after RSL trucked the Galaxy at home despite spotting them a one-goal lead, the Galaxy lost to Toronto FC — the most lightly regarded of entrants — in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, also at home.

In short, the Galaxy have yet to win this season, and they appear to be suffering from the loss of one of its best players, the same way RSL did last season when midfielder Javier Morales was hurt.

The player they're missing is star central defender Omar Gonzalez, out with a serious knee injury. His replacement, rookie Tommy Meyer, was victimized on both Toronto goals last night — by former RSL draft pick Ryan Johnson, by the way — and Morales plowed right through the middle of of the Galaxy back line for the game-winning goal last weekend.

Not having an iron-clad back line could be a big problem for the Galaxy.

They won by a 1-0 scoreline 11 times last season, illustrating their preference for trying to use their league-best defense to kill off victories. But if they're porous in the back, it's going to make it hard for them to play that way.