You never expect too much out of him because, hey, he’s “that guy.” He is your friend, mostly based on reasons you cannot explain even to yourself. Regardless, there is something there that has drawn the two of you together and you know (or hope) down deep that one-day things might change. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, they do.
Some fateful day, when it really matters, when everything is on the line, he comes through. Maybe it’s as robust as finally being around for you when you are at your worst. Maybe it’s as simple as him having your back when you’ve spoken out of turn. No matter the situation, he steps up right when you least expect it to reaffirm what you knew was always there. Despite his appearance, despite what others think of him, he is your boy and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
The 2009 version of Real Salt Lake is that friend.
A team that flat out could not, for the life of them, get it together on the road this season went into Columbus last week with a tiny one-goal advantage. If that lead was slender, their chance of walking out as aggregate winners was microscopic. Simply put, not even the most loyal RSL fan would have watched the away leg with optimism.
If, when they went down 2-nil after thirty-five minutes, Salt Lake had faded into the night with a whimper it would have actually been appropriate. Feelings of acceptance should have abounded as this team just did what any one of us would have expected it to do.
They didn’t really get it done at home, and now they were going to take it on the chin at Crew Stadium. Fair enough, dust yourself off and head home. Then, like that friend who throws a right before you can throw your left, they jumped off the mat and totally blew our minds.
Forty minutes after Barros Schelotto had given Columbus that two-goal lead, Real Salt Lake found themselves ahead. Javi Morales, Robbie Findley and Andy Williams threw a collective turkey and out of nowhere that friend who you could never count on but knew had something more to offer made amends. It’s Real Salt Lake in the Eastern Conference Championship on Saturday. Now we find out if this was just a one-time anomaly.
If everyone has that one friend, then we all certainly also have that one enemy. That person that gets under our skin like no other, that we always seem to run into no matter how hard we try to avoid their company. This person we detest, we despise, we loathe.
Enter the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution.
There may not be a better playoff rivalry going in sports right now. Yeah, not just soccer, in sports. These two teams can’t stand the sight of each other and yet they keep getting matched up come the postseason. Maybe it’s meant to be, maybe its karma if you believe in that or maybe its just dumb luck. Either way, these games are intense and I wouldn’t mind seeing them play every November.
The Revs took game one at home as they should have. The 2-1 scoreline didn’t leave much wiggle room though when it was time to head to the windy city for the return leg. The lack of offensive punch at home came back to hurt New England as they could not hold the Fire at Bridgeview. John Thorrington scored in the first half before Blanco wrapped things up late. All in all, nice to see Chicago go through if for nothing else than their fans.
Honestly, if I had to watch Real Salt Lake go to New England over the weekend and play a Conference Championship in front of a few thousand fans I might have gotten physically ill. I feel sort of bad writing that but I am sort of over putting myself through games with no atmosphere. Have games from Seattle, and Chicago, and LA, and even Columbus spoiled me? Maybe, but so what. I am watching for excitement and atmosphere. Keep me interested and I’ll be there, I promise.
This also leads to a point being made by some of the Revs after the game in regards to who really deserved the win or who truly played better. My answer is it doesn’t matter. Who won is up on the scoreboard and that’s it.
I don’t prefer to watch the English Premier League over Serie A because teams from England “play better.” No, if anything play is more technical and pleasing on the eyes in Italy. I’ll take the Prem any day though because it’s exciting, it’s end to end and it can hold the casual fan's interest.
Why make this stuff rocket science? Go out, play hard and make it fun.
Graig Carbino covers American Abroad and writes a weekly column for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at graiger11@yahoo.com
