In the middle of the euphoric celebrations of the Real Salt Lake players and coaches following their 1-1 draw with Colorado last Saturday that propelled the club into its first postseason appearance, there was a brief moment that was missed by most of the thousands looking on.
Two of the team's originals, Jason Kreis who started at Real as a player and is now the head coach, and midfielder Andy Williams, found each other in the crowd and emotionally embraced. Out of everyone else celebrating on that field those two are among the few who have experienced the rollercoaster ride of RSL's first four seasons. And for them, the sweet taste of success was all the better.
"I thought last week was amazing," said Williams of RSL's 3-1 win against FC Dallas a week earlier, "but this tops it by far. It means a lot, not only to us -- me, Jason, Kenny [Cutler], and Clint [Mathis] -- the Checketts family, the front office, but most of all the fans. Four years of hardship, you can call it."
In an effort to overcome such hardship, at the end of last season Kreis challenged his players to an intense offseason program designed to improve everyone's fitness. Williams was one of a handful of players who decided to brave the Salt Lake winter and to work on fitness.
The result was having Williams show up to preseason camp in top physical condition. The Jamaican international has stepped up as one of RSL's leading veterans and provided an example of hard work to the younger players.
As this season has been the most positive for Real Salt Lake, players like Williams are not immune to the struggles of life. In July the Williams family were informed that Andy's wife Marcia was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
While taking care of his wife and helping raise money for her treatments, Kreis has noticed that Williams' dedication on the field has not faltered.
"It's been a very, very difficult year for Andy," said an emotional Kries following the Colorado match. "There's so much going on in his life. He's just continued to work hard. He's somebody who's shown so much commitment and dedication in the offseason ... to work as hard as he did."
His on-field role might have shifted during his time in Salt Lake, where Williams has enjoyed his longest tenure out of any of the other previous six MLS teams he has played for, but his presence is still vital to the team's success.
"Bomma" hasn't found the net a lot this season, but his lone goal was a memorable one, where he nearly ripped a hole in the with a blast over New England's Matt Reis that helped give Salt Lake a vital point on the road against an Eastern Conference team.
In the most crucial match of all, against Colorado on the final day of the season, it was Williams who came on in the second half to help recover the midfield from the Rapids.
The game, and season, seemed out of reach until the final minute. Williams saw Robbie Russell go up for a high ball in the Colorado box. He moved to where he thought Russell would flick it, and was ready to turn his defender. When the ball came Williams was in on goal and was able to force a save from Bouna Coundoul. Yura Movsisyan was there to collect the rebound at the back post and usher in history.
"The way it comes there, at the very last moment, and having Andy Williams involved in that goal, for me that's just unbelievable -- unbelievable," said Kreis. "To have him involved in that goal is just absolutely special. That stuff history's made of."
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