LA Galaxy 0 – 1 Real Salt Lake
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On tonight’s game:
“It’s obviously a disappointing result. I thought it was a good game, two good teams. They made the most out of their opportunities. We had a couple of good chances as well. Our best players had a few good looks at the goal. I think [Nick] Rimando was outstanding and certainly saving the penalty in extra time was outstanding and play of the game. We could have had a goal tonight but I think both teams for an opening game played well.”
On Samuel’s performance:
“Samuel had a good night I thought. First game in the league I thought he worked real hard. I was surprised he went as long and as strong as he was on the evening. I am encouraged by his effort.”
On James Riley:
“James [Riley] played well. He is a good player we discovered that early in camp. He’s a good player. He’s going to be a valuable member of our team.”
On the missed opportunities:
“1-0 game, we had some good chances, they did as well. We don’t finish our chances and the penalty at the end of the game, what more can you say? Those are wasted chances. We should have got at least a point out of this game.”
On the positives of tonight’s game:
“For the most part we defended pretty well. At times our passing was quick and sharp and other times it was not. In the first half I can recall off the pressure we created that chance were Robbie [Keane] hit it off the post. He created the chance were he slipped Landon [Donovan] in on a one on one with [Nick] Rimando. Those were good chances. Good ball movement. For the most part the play was pretty solid. You could see that a couple of our players hit the wall at the end of the game when we needed a little more energy.”
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JEFF CASSAR
On getting his first win as an MLS Head Coach:
“It feels great, but what I am really excited about is the fight that the team had. We were under the gun a couple times in the first half and came in and half time and said, you know, just relax, it’s 0-0, exactly where we want to be, and the energy level and effort from the guys in second half was fantastic. We had a great two weeks in Tuscon preparing for this game, we had a good game plan of what we thought they would be doing, it doesn’t hurt that our goalkeeper played amazing, but I am really proud of the guys.”
On Nick Rimando’s saves:
“Unbelievable. He was controlling the ball, didn’t give up rebounds, was unbelievable in the air. This is not an easy team to play against when they are getting service into the box and then obviously the penalty kick save was amazing, but that is Nick, he is that guy. They are a dangerous team, we knew they would be dangerous. We would like to tighten up being countered on, but I am really proud of the guys.”
On the play of Joao Plata:
“Unbelievable, he was really threatening a lot of the time, but he was even controlling the ball and making good decision in transition, he was fantastic.”
