Real Salt Lake 2, David Beckham 2

Its funny to think back when David Beckham first signed up to play in the MLS a year ago. So many doubters....so many haters. The guy is getting paid more than A-Rod. How can a 30+ year old "washed-up" player bring the MLS to the next level?

Well, I personally got to see the Beckham effect......

1. The attendance nearly tripled from last home game....(but today's weather was better....but again I doubt that would have made a difference)

2. The attendance was alot more attractive than usual. Sorry ladies....he's taken. But its always fun to see them dream. Funniest moment was in the beginning of the second half, Beckham was lined up and played with his shorts (perhaps an itch or something) but all-of-the-sudden there were screams and faints.

3. Every free kick.....there were thousands of flashes (which i bet was Nick Rimando's excuse for being fooled by the goal that tied the game)

To the right was the actual free kick that I'm referring to.

4. MLS games without Beckham average two goals a game (zzzzzzzzz).

Games with Beckham average 4 goals.

Thats all the effects even if Beckham walked around doing nothing. This game was not the case though. At first, it seemed like the two previous Real Salt Lake home games (Real Salt Lake jumping out to an early 2-0 lead within halfway through the first half). Espindola and Deucher scored for Real Salt Lake. Then lightning struck..... Beckham found the ball wide open five yards outside the box and sunk a beautiful shot over the hands of the Salt Lake keeper. A few minutes later Beckham had a free kick....it was just plain automatic for Beckham and nearly impossible for anyone else.

Fortunatly for us, Landon Donovan (left) was silenced by the Real Salt Lake defenders. Donovan entered the game scoring eight goals in the last five games including a hat-trick versus Chivas USA. Today, he was just met with boos off of every corner kick taken.

REALly Cold.....

April 30th.....and its still snowing. But that wont stop Spencer and I from going to the game and it didnt stop Real Salt Lake from dominating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0. In the fifth minute, the Earthquakes were forced to make two early subs after both center defensemen had a nasty collison. The sound of the two heads crushing into each other came clearly through my beanie and sweater headie. The loss of the two defenders was clearly evident as Real Salt Lake scored three goals in the next 20 minutes, two of which came from poor passes in the backfield between defenders and midfielders.
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman scored two impressive goals for the second consecutive home game. Beckerman's first came after a few deflections off a corner kick. 10 minutes later, he followed up with his second with a laser-shot 15 yards outside the box. At halftime, he was subed out and then the snow shower arrived. With the addition to the 10-15 mile an hour winds it got freezin' cold.

Well, it appears like the curse is far past us now. After 15 games without seeing Real Salt Lake score a real goal (not including penalty kicks or own goals) we have seen seven goals in the last two games. Coincedently, it was when we changed seats in the stadium.......hmmmm