Deseret News, UT
Nov 2 2008
Real Salt Lake: Movsisyian works magic
By Michael Black
Deseret News
SANDY ‘ Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyian needs a new nickname.
The "Amazing Armenian" had a second consecutive week of late-game
heroics. The "Miracle Maker" put RSL into the playoffs a week ago with
a 90th-minute goal at Colorado, salvaging a 1-1 draw with the
Rapids. And after Saturday’s 90th-minute tally that gave Real a 1-0
win over Chivas USA in the first leg of a home-and-away, first-round
playoff game, perhaps the easiest thing to call him is a great soccer
player.
"He really, really worked hard and made it extremely hard for their
two center backs," said coach Jason Kreis. "I thought he had a couple
of fouls judged against him that would have turned into goals that
were a little bit suspect. He is a guy right now that is feeling good
about himself as we are feeling good about him. It was good to see him
rewarded at the end for all his hard work with a tap-in goal."
Movsisyian’s goal was more than a mere tap-in. It was a moment of
brilliance. Javier Morales sneaked behind his defender on a
throw-in. He took the ball to the right end line and fired the ball
across the middle. Movsisyian was charging, and the ball was a little
behind him. He stretched his right leg behind his body and flicked the
ball toward the net behind his other leg and watched it hit the back
of the net just inside the back post.
"I was kind of hoping that Javi would get the ball across because he
had a guy on him," said Movsisyian. "Fortunately for us, he did a
great job of shielding the ball and then getting the ball across. The
only thing I could have done was to control it or back-heel it. I
think I did the right thing." Obviously Movsisyian has been doing
plenty of things right. He has scored eight goals over the last 12
games. He won the team’s Golden Boot award as the highest scorer after
not playing for most of the first half of the season.
"One day I decided I was going to start scoring," joked Movsisyian of
how he suddenly became "The Goal Scoring Machine." "I guess just
getting repetitions in, getting games in and getting the minutes. Once
you do that as a forward, all you need is confidence. Once you have
confidence, I don’t think anyone can stop you."
With Real hitting the road for the second leg of the series against
Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center Saturday at 8:30 p.m., RSL will
need Yura "The Drama King" Movsisyian to continue his hot play.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
