2007 Real Salt Lake season

The 2007 Real Salt Lake season was the third season of the team's existence. After seeing slight improvement in 2006, the team struggled again under manager John Ellinger, opening the 2007 campaign with a 0-2-2 record. Ownership made a drastic move on May 3, firing Ellinger, and announcing that team captain (Jason Kreis), would retire and become the new head coach. RSL tied its next two matches against New York Red Bulls and the Colorado Rapids, but saw limited success the rest of the season. RSL finished the year with the league's second-worst record, ahead of expansion team Toronto FC.

Real Salt Lake
2007 season
Owner SCP Worldwide
Head Coach John Ellinger (Fired May 3rd) Jason Kreis (Hired May 3rd)
Major League Soccer12th
Average home league attendance15,960 [1]

The 2007 season also saw construction of its new soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah continue. Additionally, under Kreis' management, the team undertook a massive roster overhaul that essentially rebuilt the squad. Among the new players that arrives in 2007, many would go on to comprise the core of the team for several years, including, Kyle Beckerman (soon-to-be captain), Chris Wingert, Robbie Findley, Fabián Espíndola, and Javier Morales. At the center of the remake was Kreis' new team philosophy of "The Team is the Star", and a new primary formation (possession-oriented, diamond midfield).

Also vital to the growth of the club was the hiring of the team's second general manager, Garth Lagerwey, on September 19. Lagerwey, a former MLS goalkeeper, was a teammate of Kreis' at Duke University and Dallas Burn. The two proved to be a great tandem which led to future player acquisitions for the team within the next year including Will Johnson, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers, and Jámison Olave.

Real Salt Lake finished the season on October 20 with a 1-0 win over Colorado. In an otherwise disappointing year, the win secured RSL's first ever Rocky Mountain Cup victory. The team finished with a record of 6-15-9 and a -14 goal differential, placing last in the Western Conference.

Squad

2007 roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  USA Chris Seitz
3 DF  USA Carey Talley
4 FW  USA Kyle Brown
5 MF  USA Kyle Beckerman
6 DF  USA Ritchie Kotschau
7 FW  ARG Fabián Espíndola
8 MF  USA Chris Brown
9 FW  USA Jason Kreis †
9 MF  USA Alecko Eskandarian
10 FW  USA Robbie Findley
11 MF  ARG Javier Morales
12 MF  USA Nathan Sturgis
13 FW  SKN Atiba Harris
14 FW  ARM Yura Movsisyan
15 MF  USA Kenny Cutler
16 DF  USA Chris Lancos
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF  USA Chris Wingert
18 GK  USA Nick Rimando
19 DF  LBR Willis Forko
20 MF  USA Nikolas Besagno
22 FW  USA Jamie Watson
23 DF  USA Eddie Pope
25 DF  CIV Jean-Martial Kipre
27 DF  ARG Matias Mantilla
28 MF  USA Dustin Kirby
31 DF  USA Jack Stewart
77 MF  JAM Andy Williams
— MF  USA Steven Curfman ††
— FW  USA Duke Hashimoto ††
— MF  USA Christian Jimenez ††
— GK  USA Kyle Reynish ††
— FW  USA Jeff Rowland ††
 † Promoted to head coach on May 3
†† Saw no First Team minutes in 2007

Mid-Season Transfers

Due to the termination of John Ellinger as head coach and the subsequent promotion of Jason Kreis in early May, there were an abnormal number of mid-season transactions for the club. The players listed in the roster section above include those acquired during this makeover. Below are names of players acquired, traded, transferred, or released by the team after the May 3rd hiring of Kreis in chronological order:

Competitions

Major League Soccer
See also: 2007 Major League Soccer season

Western Conference
Western Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 Chivas USA 53 30 15 7 8 46 28 18
2 Houston Dynamo 52 30 15 8 7 43 23 20
3 FC Dallas 44 30 13 12 5 37 44 -7
4 Colorado Rapids 35 30 9 13 8 29 34 -5
5 Los Angeles Galaxy 34 30 9 14 7 38 48 -10
6 Real Salt Lake 27 30 6 15 9 31 45 -14
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2008 U.S. Open Cup
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card), 2008 U.S. Open Cup

Overall
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 D.C. United (E1) 55 30 16 7 7 56 34 22
2 Chivas USA (W1) 53 30 15 7 8 46 28 18
3 Houston Dynamo (W2) 52 30 15 8 7 43 23 20
4 New England Revolution (E2) 50 30 14 8 8 51 43 8
5 FC Dallas 44 30 13 12 5 37 44 -7
6 New York Red Bulls 43 30 12 11 7 47 45 2
7 Chicago Fire 40 30 10 10 10 31 36 -5
8 Kansas City Wizards 40 30 11 12 7 45 45 0
9 Columbus Crew 37 30 9 11 10 39 44 -5
10 Colorado Rapids 35 30 9 13 8 29 34 -5
11 Los Angeles Galaxy 34 30 9 14 7 38 48 -10
12 Real Salt Lake 27 30 6 15 9 31 45 -14
13 Toronto FC 25 30 6 17 7 25 49 -24
MLS Supporters' Shield, 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2008, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs

Results summary
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundHHAHHAAAAHAHHAAHHHAHAAAAHHAHHA
ResultTTLLTTLTTLLWLLLLWLLWWLLTTWTLLW
Source: 2007 Major League Soccer season
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; L = Loss; T = Tie
OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGD
30 27 6 15 9 31 45  −14 4 7 4 18 22  −4 2 8 5 13 23  −10

Last updated: December 27, 2013
Source:
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Regular season

[2]   Win   Tie   Loss

April 7, 2007 1 Real Salt Lake 2 - 2 FC Dallas Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
6:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
April 14, 2007 2 Real Salt Lake 0 - 0 Columbus Crew Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
6:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
April 21, 2007 3 Chivas USA 4 - 0 Real Salt Lake Carson, California, USA
10:30PM ET Stadium: The Home Depot Center
April 30, 2007 4 Real Salt Lake 0 - 2 Colorado Rapids Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
May 5, 2007 5 Real Salt Lake 3 - 3 New York Red Bulls Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
May 10, 2007 6 Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
May 20, 2007 7 FC Dallas 2 - 1 Real Salt Lake Frisco, Texas, USA
7:00PM ET Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
May 27, 2007 8 Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Real Salt Lake Bridgeview, Illinois, USA
5:00PM ET Stadium: Toyota Park
June 2, 2007 9 New England Revolution 0 - 0 Real Salt Lake Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA
7:30PM ET Stadium: Gillette Stadium
June 14, 2007 10 Real Salt Lake 0 - 1 FC Dallas Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
June 17, 2007 11 Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - 2 Real Salt Lake Carson, California, USA
8:00PM ET Stadium: The Home Depot Center
June 23, 2007 12 Real Salt Lake 2 - 1 D.C. United Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:30PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
July 4, 2007 13 Real Salt Lake 1 - 2 Toronto FC Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
10:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
July 7, 2007 14 Columbus Crew 2 - 0 Real Salt Lake Columbus, Ohio, USA
7:30PM ET Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium
July 14, 2007 15 Kansas City Wizards 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Missouri, USA
8:00PM ET Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
July 28, 2007 16 Real Salt Lake 1 - 2 New England Revolution Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:30PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
August 4, 2007 17 Real Salt Lake 1 - 0 Houston Dynamo Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
August 18, 2007 18 Real Salt Lake 0 - 2 Chicago Fire Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
August 26, 2007 19 Chivas USA 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake Carson, California, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: The Home Depot Center
August 29, 2007 20 Real Salt Lake 3 - 1 Kansas City Wizards Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
September 1, 2007 21 Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 2 Real Salt Lake Carson, California, USA
10:30PM ET Stadium: The Home Depot Center
September 8, 2007 22 Houston Dynamo 4 - 3 Real Salt Lake Houston, Texas, USA
8:30PM ET Stadium: Robertson Stadium
September 12, 2007 23 D.C. United 2 - 1 Real Salt Lake Washington, D.C., USA
7:30PM ET Stadium: RFK Stadium
September 15, 2007 24 Toronto FC 0 - 0 Real Salt Lake Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3:30PM ET Stadium: BMO Field
September 19, 2007 25 Real Salt Lake 2 - 2 Los Angeles Galaxy Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
September 22, 2007 26 Real Salt Lake 1 - 0 Colorado Rapids Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:30PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
September 29, 2007 27 New York Red Bulls 2 - 2 Real Salt Lake East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
7:30PM ET Stadium: Giants Stadium
October 6, 2007 28 Real Salt Lake 2 - 3 Chivas USA Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
October 15, 2007 29 Real Salt Lake 0 - 1 Houston Dynamo Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
October 20, 2007 30 Colorado Rapids 0 - 1 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado, USA
9:00PM ET Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park

References
  1. Renzhofer, Martin (August 29, 2012). "Real Salt Lake's fan base keeps growing". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. "MLS Regular Season - 2007 Real Salt Lake". www.mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
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