Captain Has Faith in RSL Reserves
When it takes on the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL will have to rely heavily on several reserves, with goalkeeper Nick Rimando injured and midfielder Javier Morales and defender Jamison Olave both suspended.
But midfielder Kyle Beckerman doesn't foresee any problems.
“It will be exactly the same, that we've been playing all season,” the team captain said. “That's a good thing. We won't have to adjust much. Sometimes you have to adjust the way you play, it's a different style of player. But for the most part, everything will be the same.”
Goalkeeper Chris Seitz will make his first start of the season in place of Rimando, while midfielder Andy Williams and defender Tony Beltran seem likely to enter the starting lineup. Defender Robbie Russell figures to move into central defense for Olave, with Beltran replacing Russell at right back, since back-up central defender David Horst has made some costly mistakes this season.
Regardless of how the lineup shakes out exactly — midfielder Ned Grabavoy also is a possible starter — Beckerman said RSL won't be lacking for confidence, despite its tough road loss last weekend. The team has won all three of its home games so far this season, by an astonishing 12-2 margin. The big key will be keeping a close mark on the Galaxy's Landon Donovan, who has scored four goals and assisted on three this season.
“We're confident going into this game,” Beckerman said, “no matter who we've got.”
Beckerman also said he's eager to see former RSL midfielder Dema Kovalenko, whom the team traded in the offseason after the veteran played a big role in its first playoff run last year. “When he's not on your team at all, you think he's this big, bad wolf,” Beckerman said. “But once you get to know him, he's a nice guy. … I don't think he has any animosity towards us, like he did against New York. So it will just be regular old Dema.”
But midfielder Kyle Beckerman doesn't foresee any problems.
“It will be exactly the same, that we've been playing all season,” the team captain said. “That's a good thing. We won't have to adjust much. Sometimes you have to adjust the way you play, it's a different style of player. But for the most part, everything will be the same.”
Goalkeeper Chris Seitz will make his first start of the season in place of Rimando, while midfielder Andy Williams and defender Tony Beltran seem likely to enter the starting lineup. Defender Robbie Russell figures to move into central defense for Olave, with Beltran replacing Russell at right back, since back-up central defender David Horst has made some costly mistakes this season.
Regardless of how the lineup shakes out exactly — midfielder Ned Grabavoy also is a possible starter — Beckerman said RSL won't be lacking for confidence, despite its tough road loss last weekend. The team has won all three of its home games so far this season, by an astonishing 12-2 margin. The big key will be keeping a close mark on the Galaxy's Landon Donovan, who has scored four goals and assisted on three this season.
“We're confident going into this game,” Beckerman said, “no matter who we've got.”
Beckerman also said he's eager to see former RSL midfielder Dema Kovalenko, whom the team traded in the offseason after the veteran played a big role in its first playoff run last year. “When he's not on your team at all, you think he's this big, bad wolf,” Beckerman said. “But once you get to know him, he's a nice guy. … I don't think he has any animosity towards us, like he did against New York. So it will just be regular old Dema.”
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 10:11 AM |
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