SANDY — Robbie Findley's vanishing finishing touch is bordering on ridiculous.
No matter the circumstance, a penalty kick or a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper, the Real Salt Lake striker just can't find the back of the net. It happened again in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Toronto.
After struggling with a few half-chances earlier in the match, in the 60th minute Findley found himself in the box with the ball at his feet and only keeper Stefan Frei to beat. His shot was easily kicked saved by Frei.
It was a surreal moment, one that had everyone at Rio Tinto Stadium wondering if the striker who played in the World Cup just a few months ago would ever score again.
Findley's last goal was on Aug. 7 in a 1-1 draw at Kansas City. In the meantime, RSL has scored 14 goals in eight combined MLS and CONCACAF Champions League matches. Findley, however, hasn't scored one of them.
Internally, no one is giving up on Findley, especially his coach.
"It's about the little things that he does for us, and he did a lot of those little things again tonight," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "I know it's going to be like a light switch, at one point one of them is going to go in and then everything will work out for him."
Findley took a step, albeit a small one, in the right direction with a wonderful assist on Real Salt Lake's fourth goal against Toronto on Wednesday.
And while the assist and the glowing assessment from his coach can only help, Findley's confidence in front of goal is at an all-time low right now. It happened so suddenly.
After returning from the World Cup, Findley scored in four of his first six matches and looked to be building some positive momentum heading into Real Salt Lake's busiest stretch of the season. The goal scoring has ceased, but his teammates recognize the hard work he's putting in day in and day out and know his next goal is just a matter of time.
"The goals will come, he's doing everything he can, he's doing the right things, he's not being selfish. He's playing good even though he's not scoring," said RSL captain Kyle Beckerman. "Credit to him, just keep his head up. It's got to be tough for any forward when you're going through a time when you can't find the net, but he's doing the other things good for us so it's no problem."
To a coach like Kreis, those little things are often more important than scoring goals. RSL is on pace to break the league record for fewest goals allowed in a season because all 11 players on the field are committed to defending — including Findley.
Late in last week's scoreless draw against Seattle, Findley tracked all the way back to the top of the box to clear a ball out with his head.
"He does things people don't see and it's easy for people to criticize that aren't seeing what he does everyday," said Chris Wingert.
Eventually, however, Findley will need to pull some weight on the stat sheet. A forward can't make a living in any league without scoring goals. Wingert hasn't lost confidence at all.
"He's one of my best friends on the team, and I believe in him as much as anybody else does if not more. I just have so much confidence in Robbie," said Wingert.
e-mail: jedward@desnews.com