This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Jeff Cassar offered an immediate, emphatic take late Wednesday on one of Real Salt Lake's more nail-biting, entertaining and infuriating matches of 2016. The RSL coach said conceding three goals at home to a Western Conference rival in what ended up a 3-3 draw "is just unacceptable."
Cassar added: "We had really bad moments, but not bad stretches because I don't think we ever had 10 or 15 minutes of the game where [the L.A. Galaxy] were dominating us."
Those momentary lapses that RSL continues to run into this season are becoming too familiar at home.
Each week during their media availabilities, Cassar or general manager Craig Waibel are the first to say the most crucial part of their club's next match is the first 10 minutes. Lately, those starts are working against RSL.
Five times since June 22, RSL has conceded a goal to the visiting team within the first 10 minutes. The 3-3 draw against the Galaxy was the latest example in which RSL had to climb back from an early deficit.
They've done it often. Wednesday night's result was the 21st point earned this year from a trailing position — that's nearly 50 percent of the team's 44 points through 28 regular-season matches.
"We definitely don't want to start to get in a habit of putting ourselves behind the eight ball at the start of the game," Cassar said.
Yet, they have.
Now, the club tied for second place in the Western Conference and the second-best overall record in Major League Soccer, must figure out how to piece it together. RSL has shown its ability to rally after falling asleep and allowing untimely goals. But it's early September, and if the team is to nail down a top two or three seed out West, RSL must bring the same urgency to the first halves that they have after intermission, when they've been at their best.
"In the second half, we had purpose," said forward Burrito Martinez, "going punch-for-punch."
Cassar added: "How can we improve the sharpness in the first half, attacking and recognizing the dangers before they happen? That's something we preach all day and that's something we are going to have to get better at, but we are striving to get better at it at all time."
RSL doesn't have much time to break down its breakdowns against L.A. The club travels to Province Park in Portland this weekend to face the reigning MLS Cup champion Timbers, who are desperately trying to claw their way up the playoff ladder.
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who returned from national-team duty early Wednesday and played 90 minutes in the 3-3 draw, said RSL must clean up the defensive mistakes.
That might be easier said than done.
"At this point in the season every game is huge," Beckerman said. "We know Portland will be up for it. We've got to match their intensity, match their energy and see if we can't go for a win there and keep the momentum and keep up high in the standings."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
RSL at Portland
Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
TV • KMYU