A single rush of blood to the head is all it takes to shift a match, to turn its on its head, to unsettle a squad of players: One red card can change everything. One moment of slight madness from Nat Borchers and an entire match was blown into something else; like a piece of molten glass, Saturday’s battle against struggling Chivas USA changed form from the first minute to the 15th to the 30th.
Like an egg timer being reset on a consistent basis (until, at least, 90 minutes was up,) the match ebbed and flowed almost on a schedule. In the first 15 minutes, there was only one side worth examination, one real chance of a winner. After a mere 11 minutes, Alvaro Saborio took advantage of some “defending” — a lax back pass, a lazy touch — and put Real Salt Lake firmly in the driver’s seat with the calmitude he sometimes exhibits. Such calmitude, even, that he made rounding the keeper look like floating along the lazy river; but that it was that put us ahead without much controversy.
After 23 minutes, Nat Borchers found himself with a rush of blood that belied his years and confidence. After a touch that was lacking in the concentration the defender exhibits on any given matchday, the man himself pulled back an attacker (who may perhaps have gone down more easily than strictly necessary, but such complaints are moot when defenders make silly decisions) and was issued, posthaste, a red card.
On 32 minutes, the performance of Arturo Alvarez was terminated, and the indomitable Jason Kreis brought in a like-for-like replacement of Nat Borchers. Hauling off Alvarez was harsh on the night — he had been performing well in the first 32 minutes certainly — but justified on form, and certainly justified on formation. The shape was restored, and some bravery was exhibited in keeping both Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola on the pitch.
Of course, the bravery was found justified: Fabian dropped into a sort of free role in a 4-4-1, playing in a modifiied diamond-tip and moving into wide positions when necessary. His hold-up play was never the stuff of legend, but it was efficient and effective, and when it came time to retain possession he did hard work to make sure that happened. Even when it didn’t come off, he pressured defenders and pushed them into uncomfortable situations, and that was as much of value as a “safe” pick would have been.
Down a man but never reeling, Real Salt Lake managed a convincing win that showed the famed mental strength that pushed them to that 2009 MLS Cup win. A lesser side would have crumbled or gone for the revenge ticket, but this one succumbed only to the allure of victory. The glimmer of the playoffs is certainly in sight now, and a loss would have meant serious questioning of the side’s ability to even reach the requisite relative points total. But with nary a sidelong glance, the side leaped obstacle after obstacle, making their intentions known.
Down but never out, as they say, the Claret and Cobalt survived to see another day with three points and a clean sheet. The dismissal of Nat Borchers and his impending suspension were hardly what we need now, but wins are hardly about getting what we need. The game is about responding to challenges, and if this side keeps this up long-term, this season could well get more exciting as it progresses.
Hang on, then. It’ll be a bumpy ride.
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