Real Salt Lake aims for the jugular against Columbus

Thursday, 05 November 09, 12:53 PM · Comments (0)

It's do-or-die time for the MLS playoffs, and smack in the middle of things are two teams. One club has the best record, boasts the two-time defender of the year, and has a one goal difficult to overcome. The other snuck into the back door of the playoffs and can't win on the road. So then, who do you like between Columbus and Real Salt Lake Thursday night?

There were plenty of talking points after last week's first leg, when Robert Warzycha left Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno on the bench for 90 minutes. An almost shrewd move turned sour behind Robbie Findley's 88th minute winner.

If you're Jason Kreis, the approach to tonight's game is simple. You head into Crew Stadium, and you can do a couple of things. The first, play anti-football. Park the bus in front of the net, dare Columbus to score at least a goal. That strategy seems destined to fail, unless Warzycha baffles anyone following the league closely and sits his creative Argentine once again -- that seems unlikely.

RSL has the tools to play on the counter, which is the best approach to take. Findley, Yura Movsisyan, Andy Williams, Clint Mathis or Will Johnson are just a few of the attacking talents Kreis has to call on. Sending out a 4-5-1 that can shift to a 4-3-3 on the counter could be a great way to run at Columbus.

The Crew's home form especially has been dire in the season's concluding month, though they should have the ability to see off RSL's challenge. Better play from the trio of Robbie Rogers, Emmanuel Ekpo and Eddie Gaven is a necessity if they hope to advance. Defensive play cannot be a priority, though if RSL were to grab at least a goal it would put the Crew in a deep hole.

Looking at the match, international implications exist for a few of these players. If RSL were to lose, Findley would have a good shot at a call-up for the November U.S. friendlies in Europe. But club over country right? On the flip side, Robbie Rogers would miss out on a chance should the Crew advance.

Real Salt Lake aims for the jugular against Columbus

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