This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In an act of unselfishness, Alvaro Saborio sent a message to his Real Salt Lake teammates.After playing 90 minutes Friday for Costa Rica, it would have been perfectly natural for Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio not to suit up for Saturday's MLS game against Philadelphia. But there he was, ready in case of an emergency as RSL defeated the Union 2-1.In fact, RSL coach Jason Kreis' reaction when Saborio suggested it even before Costa Rica took the field against the United State was, "No chance."Sabo insisted. Kreis slept on the decision."I wouldn't want to take that kind of risk," Kreis said. "Then I said, 'If you don't play 90 minutes, I'll consider it.'"Friday night, Saborio, whose counterattack push led directly to Costa Rica's goal in the 1-0 victory, texted Kreis, again pleading his case to be part of the 18 players eligible to play."I want to be there for you and try to help the team," said Kreis of Sabo's text."At this moment I think he feels the way as we all do," Kreis said. "We're trending forward and we're all in this together...and he wants to be part of it. So I slept on it and changed my mind."Had he been needed, Saborio would have only played 15 minutes. That he offered showed his committment to RSL.