Show Season opener is a tie JR Kamauoha Contributing Writer With the first game of the season ending in a 2 tie to FC Dallas Real Salt Lake is more determined to get their game in top shape In their second consecutive season of Major League Soccer play the club is focused to gain the playoff berth they narrowly missed by two points last season Ending the first game of the 2007 season in a tie automatically gives both Real Salt Lake and FC PC Dallas one point each Each win equals out to be three points and losses are zero So wins and the number of points accumulated during the season determine playoff pairing Rice Rice-E Rice Rice-Eccles cles Stadium was p packed Saturday April 7 with soccer fans fanson on hand to cheer on soccer and gain a glimpse of teenage and new Real Salt Lake addition Freddy Adu As the opening ceremony commenced and the teams were announced there was a standing ovation for Adu who lo wears the no 11 jersey Cheers also heightened every time Adu touched the ball Due to an aggravated hip flexor which he suffered while training in the regular season Adu could not play percent While signing autographs outside the Jocker locker Adu carried a I noticeable limp in his step It was hard for me to move out there said Adu to the Salt Lake Tribune When you have just a little knock you appreciate being healthy It throws a alot alot alot lot of things oft off Adu was not the only star in the game to shine Jeff Cunningham contributed two goals in inthe inthe inthe the contest Within the opening minutes FC Dallas' Dallas Kenny Cooper fired in a shot after the ball reflected off the hands of goal keeper Nick pushing Dallas to a 1 0 advantage During the twenty-ninth twenty minute of play Cunningham returned the favor and knotted the score at 1 In the second half of play Cunningham scored another goal in the first fifty-first minute to leave the game at 2 2 1 1 As the minutes swept by and with 4 mi minutes utes of stoppage time added FC Dallas made their move With 3 minutes passed of stoppage time FC Dallas' Dallas Carlos scored the goal to tie the game 2 We have to learn how to dig in and close the game said head coach John Ellinger We are a little disappointed because we lost a couple of points said defender Eddie Pope according to But the exciting part paI the next day or so we will start realizing that we played pretty well and dominated most of the game Real Salt Lake Lake 0 1 0 now lo loo look k toward an April 14 showdown against Columbus at Rice-Eccles Rice Stadium For more information on and soccer visit |