RSL Victory Opens Carolina Challenge Cup

The 2009 edition of the Carolina Challenge Cup got underway on Saturday night, with Real Salt Lake handing D.C. United a 3-0 loss in the tournament's opening game. Trialist Luis Miguel Escalada scored the game's opening goal four minutes into the second half, while Yura Movsisyan and Andy Williams added insurance tallies late in the game to finish off nine-man United.

Here is a recap of the game, via an RSL press release:

Real Salt Lake entered tonight's game looking to recover from a pair of late game goals allowed eight days ago against Swedish first division club BK Hacken, which ended RSL's flawless defensive mark at 442 minutes in a 2-1 win. The RSL defense was certainly up to task, limiting the United opportunities to just a pair of shots from Clyde Simms and Fred in a choppy first half. RSL dominated possession in the initial stanza, utilizing rookie left winger Raphael Cox to open up the attack, with combination play by Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman and Yura Movsisyan creating opportunities. However, the final pass or shot was lacking, as RSL rarely tested the United goal. A D.C. United red card was the highlight of the first half, with DF Dejan Jakovic coming in late on a challege as RSL DF Chris Wingert stormed up the left side. However, the teams entered the halftime break tied at 0-0.

Just four minutes into the second half, RSL benefited from the man-advantage, with Cox streaking up the left side deep into the corner, whipping a cross near-post to the head of claret-and-cobalt forward Escalada, who sent his shot across the face of the goal and inside the far post for a 1-0 lead. The ensuing minutes would see RSL continue to live in the United half, with Escalada, Movsisyan, Will Johnson, Tony Beltran and even center-backs David Horst and Jamison Olave moving forward to create near-opportunities.

In the games' 70th minute, Kreis made wholesale substitutions, bringing in Clint Mathis, Andy Williams, Robbie Findley, Nat Borchers and the recently-signed Ned Grabavoy. After winning the ball at midfield, Mathis provided the magic to open up the game, lofting a 35-yard ball over the top to spring Movsisyan in the box. RSL's 2008 Golden Boot winner finished the chance with the outside of his right foot to put RSL up 2-0.

It was the lone "RSL Original" Andy Williams that put the final coda on the night, orchestrating the attack in the final minutes, thrilling the crowd with his ball skills in tight space and spraying passes all over the pitch to Findley and new teammates Grabavoy and guest player Michael Osci. In the 88th minute, it was Osci dragged down at the top of the box on a breakaway by United defender Anthony Peters, who was issued the second red card of the night. Williams stepped up and curled a scintillating free kick over the wall, past a helpless, flat-footed 'keeper and into the opposite upper 90 to determine the game's final 3-0 margin.

Scoring Summary:
RSL - Luis Miguel Escalada (Raphael Cox) 49'
RSL - Yura Movsisyan (Clint Mathis) 76'
RSL - Andy Williams 89'

* photo courtesy BehindTheBadge.com