MLS: Tonight's home game critical for first-place RSL -> Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis
"People are really starting to notice a little bit that we're not that doormat team that used to be," Beckerman said.
Real Salt Lake readies for season's biggest game -> Deseret News/James Edward
Real Salt Lake's coach didn't hesitate in the slightest in dubbing tonight's match with visiting Toronto FC the biggest of the season. "I wouldn't make any quandaries about it," said Kreis. "That's the way I've put it to the team. There's no doubt about it, we have to have three points."
Real Salt Lake: Game Day -> Deseret News
Davis: Morales Leading the Charge in Salt Lake -> Goal.com
“It’s good,” said Morales, who has three goals to go with his team-leading seven assists (tied for second in MLS). “Every time we’re playing better. It’s better soccer. We’re putting in the work and maintaining the first place spot, but our goal is to make the playoffs.”
For that to happen, the star of Javier Morales will have to continue to shine.
The Monday MLS Breakdown: Halfway There -> Goal.com/Kyle McCarthy
How did they get here? No one's quite too sure how it happened, but Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman and Nat Borchers are three obvious contributors to the cause.
What do they need to get to where they want to go? Jason Kreis' pupu platter of strikers needs Fabian Espindola and perhaps even further arrivals to bolster the offensive production.
How will the second half unfold? A true MLS Cup challenge may be too much to ask, but this team is good enough to seal the franchise's first playoff berth and perhaps go even farther than that.
MLS Preview: Real Salt Lake v. Toronto FC -> Goal.com/Pat Walsh
RSL’s playmaker, Javier Morales, has done well in running Real’s offense this season, and he is second in the league in assists. And with both Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne missing from Toronto’s side due to Olympic duty, he should have more space to operate in. Also, Kyle Beckerman will try to get forward even more on RSL’s left side, looking to play crosses into Kenny Deuchar’s head.
Toronto FC may have found new scoring power -> National Post/Mark Masters
Toronto FC faces Real Salt Lake Monday in Utah and may have a new striker in the lineup.
The club has agreed to trade the rights to Brian McBride to the Chicago Fire and will reportedly get 23-year-old striker Chad Barrett back as part of a package that will also include a draft pick and allocation money.
Borchers planning to give back with clinic -> Pueblo Chieftain Online/Tracy Renck
"We have a break in the MLS schedule and I thought I would put on a soccer clinic," the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Borchers said. "I've never been able to put on a soccer clinic in the summer because I've always been playing and I'm excited for this clinic." Borchers, a center backer, has helped power Real Salt Lake to a 6-6-6 record, which is good for first place in the MLS' Western Conference. Real Salt Lake entertains Toronto at 7 p.m. Monday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake.
