Post-game quotes: D.C. United 2, Real Salt Lake 1
U.S. OPEN CUP 2010 QUOTESHEET
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010 – D.C. UNITED 2, REAL SALT LAKE 1
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On coming out of a losing streak
We’ve put together some good performances over the last couple of weeks and we just want to build on that. We’ve stayed positive throughout our difficult times. You get to find out who you are, I believe, through the tough times, not through the easy times. It’s easy to coach a team when you’re winning and it’s easy to play through things when you’re winning. You got to dig deep and our group has dug deep. We’ve gotten some guys back from injury and that’s certainly helped us. And now we just have to enjoy this for the night and make sure tomorrow we get ourselves ready and focused the right way. We’re playing against the MLS Cup champions on Saturday in front of our home crowd in a game that we need points so we’re going to make sure we’re rested, we’re prepared and we give everything we possibly can to get the points we need.
On confidence and winning
They go hand-in-hand. Winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds winning so it’s that snowball-type effect where I think earlier in the year we got ourselves into certain situations where we’re like, ‘Oh no, here we go again,’ and those are psychological barriers you have to get over. They’re not easy things to get over, but it’s a tribute to our guys, they have a real fighting spirit and we’re very organized and we’re playing good soccer too. We’ve just got to continue to do it. We’ve got to consistently do it so we can creep up the standings.
On Andy Najar’s goal
[The goal] was a special little play and in games like these you’ve got to make plays on both sides of the field. That was a great play on the offensive part of the field to make a difference in the game. He’s a 17 year old with a lot of energy coming in and playing against guys who have been playing 110 minutes prior to that. We waited to keep that sub as long as we could and it ended up being the difference.
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER TROY PERKINS
On United’s victory
I think [this victory] is huge for this team, coming off of an AC Milan win where we fought to the end to preserve a lead, and a good win at the weekend where we came back, and now to go through this as a team where everyone contributed – I think we have proven to ourselves we can win, no matter what. Now we have to just keep doing the things we have been doing.
On his performance in goal
The first half was hard, there were a lot of heads and elbows thrown in my face, but we just have to be better obviously with our marks. We fought, they fought, and now we have to fight them again on Saturday.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER STEPHEN KING
On his increased playing time
I feel great, having played in the Milan game and the past week against Chivas, and again tonight, three games in a week is awesome. Those are the most minutes I have played in about a year, so for me it has been really exciting. I am excited to be back on the field, and more importantly I am excited that we are winning games. Obviously each of these games has been a little different. The first one [against AC Milan] was a friendly, and then we had the League game [against Chivas], and now the Open Cup win over Real Salt Lake, and we take the Open Cup Cup very seriously – we want to win it.
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER ANDY NAJAR
On his match-winning goal
It was so exciting to get the goal, because we have been trying to win. To get an extra time finish is great, and I am just so excited for the team.
On playing Real Salt Lake again on Saturday in the League
I am going to work hard for this next game [against Real Salt Lake]. We really want to win, because they were the champions last year, and we will have to work very hard to beat them.
D.C. UNITED DEFENDER JORDAN GRAYE
On playing 120 minutes
I feel pretty tired to be honest. I feel like it is a culmination of playing three games in a row, but it feels very good to get these wins. My goal is just to rebound quickly and be ready once again for Saturday.
On winning three matches in a row
I think the AC Milan win let us know that we can beat anyone. Whether they were playing hard or not, it was still AC Milan, and we came out with the mindset that we can beat anyone we play. We took that [mindset] into the Chivas game and tonight’s match, and it has paid off. Now we need to do it all over again on Saturday.
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On the game
I walk away from that very proud of what our players put into it – very proud of the effort they gave. There was never any die in our team. I’m very, very pleased with the way we’re handling ourselves on the road, at home – in difficult circumstances.
On RSL’s chances
Even in the first sixty minutes, we created a couple chances, and I thought we were the better team. It would have been outstanding if we had capitalized on one of those chances and put ourselves in a better position.
On how playing 120 minutes will affect the team on Saturday
Those are all conversations that have yet to come, with the players in particular, to see how many guys are really up to it. We have to make sure we do everything we can for them to get them prepared [for Saturday].
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER ANDY WILLIAMS
On what he expects for Saturday’s MLS game
I know that both teams are going to be super tired Saturday. I thought the game went pretty well for us. We created chances at the end to tie it up – a couple chances were cleared off the line, and Perkins made a couple saves, so that kind of upset our night. So hopefully Saturday we can forget about this and come out and play better.
On playing in the Open Cup
Any chance you can win a Cup you really try. We have a good bunch of players that need these games, reserve games or the Open Cup games – we have a bunch of reserve players that can come in and do well, and as of tonight they did well. Luis Gil played his first match for RSL tonight, ever, and I thought he did well. Open Cup games like this tonight help out guys like that.
REAL SALT LAKE DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER TONY BELTRAN
On the loss
We’re not happy about it, but on Saturday we’ll learn from it, and be the better team then.
On playing in a different position
I got to play outside mid which is exciting. For the first 20 minutes I was a little off out there positionally but I settled down and I felt comfortable with the ball, especially in the second half. After that I dropped back into left back where I’m very comfortable at.
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