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SALT LAKE CITY -- It is understandable that sports are filled with heartbreak. After all, in the end, there can only be one winner, leaving others outside looking in.
The heartbreak felt is especially difficult when it's your favorite team on the verge of obtaining a major accomplishment. Working toward an intangible goal, only to grasp at air in a failed attempt is never a great feeling.
For Real Salt Lake, falling short in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final to Monterrey is something that hurts more than any previous match in the club's short history.
Entering Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Monterrey, Real needed a win or a 0-0 or 1-1 tie to advance to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. MLS teams from around the league put their support behind RSL, hopeful that an American team could end a drought against Mexican teams.
Furthermore, American soccer was hopeful to gain increased support on the global stage, finally proving to the world that American teams can win against international teams.
Without question, RSL did itself and its league proud in the tournament, but this is a bitter pill for manager Jason Kreis and his players to swallow.
–Jeff Carlisle
But it was Monterrey's Humberto Suazo, scoring the game's deciding goal that prevented RSL from becoming the first MLS team to advance to the FIFA Club World Cup, deflating the hopes of American soccer.
"In fact, if heartbreaking losses make the eventual (inevitable?) triumphs so much sweeter, then soccer in the States is eating enough bitterness these days to throw the party of all parties when the big win finally comes through," writes SI.com senior writer Grant Wahl.
American soccer and MLS will have to wait a little longer to prove to the world its ability against international competition. Meanwhile, RSL should be proud of their success in the short time in the league.
"We have to continue to be proud of what we put into this tournament and the fact that we made it all the way to the final," said RSL head coach Jason Kreis. "I think we take some pride in that. But ultimately very disappointed that we couldn't take that final step."
ESPN.com MLS analyst Jeff Carlisle writes: "Without question, RSL did itself and its league proud in the tournament, but this is a bitter pill for manager Jason Kreis and his players to swallow. Much like the U.S. at last summer's World Cup, rarely will the circumstances for success be so perfectly aligned."
Despite Wednesday's loss, Real Salt Lake has built up quite the resume for a suburban team in Sandy, Utah.
Prior to the construction of Rio Tinto Stadium, many were upset about a stadium being built in Sandy. Opponents of the stadium questioned funding, parking and the ability to sustain a professional team in a sport that isn't one of the mainstream sports in the United States.
However, after winning an MLS title in 2009 and qualifying for a continental tournament in only six years in the league, many have come around to the idea of a professional soccer team in Utah.
Leading up to the hype of Wednesday's game, sports fans tuned in to see what RSL soccer was all about. The publicity of such an event captured the attention of individuals unaccustomed to the sport of soccer.
Winning the CONCACAF Champions League final would have been a major boost to the club, but Jason Kreis asks that observers judge their successes and not just one loss.
"I would hope that people would judge us on the tournament and not on tonight," Kreis said. "This was a huge opportunity gone missing and we feel deeply, deeply sorry about that, but judge us over the entire tournament."
RSL returns to MLS play on Saturday against the Portland Timbers, following an early 4-0 start on the season. With the success that the team has had over the years, including their quick start of the regular season, Real has the potential to win the Supporters Shield and another MLS title.
Real Salt Lake is hopeful that fans will stay with the team as they attempt another run at international competition.
"We've had tremendous support from fans that have been here from day one and the fans that have just come on board," said RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "We wish they'd stay with us because we've got something special here and because of this loss doesn't mean that we're out of the season. We're 4-0 on the season."
*E-mail: jfurlong@ksl.com*Twitter: @JFurKSL
