SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and
Head Coach John Ellinger today announced the acquisition of striker
Melvin Tarley, a Liberian-born forward who has scored six goals in
three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Games for the giant-slaying Minnesota
Thunder (USL First Division). In order to clear roster space for
today's acquisition, RSL placed DF Matt Behncke on waivers. Behncke
appeared in eight RSL games this season, starting seven and logging
a total of 587 minutes for the senior team.
Tarley, a 22-year old forward who stands at 6-1, 175, found the
back of the net twice in the Thunder's 6-4 win over Real Salt Lake
on July 13 and tallied all four Thunder goals in the team's 4-1 win
over the Colorado Rapids on August 3. Tarley started and played 88
minutes in Minnesota's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards on
August 24, advancing the USL First Division squad to the Open Cup
Semifinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy on September 14.
"One of the best ways to evaluate players is to view them playing
against your own team, and Melvin Tarley displayed his abilities
against us in the third round of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup," Ellinger
said. "He is somebody we felt that we should immediately add to our
roster. Tarley is a forward that has good pace, great size and holds
the ball well, and we welcome him as we make our push for a playoff
berth."
As part of the transfer, RSL and Minnesota have agreed that
Tarley will be available to return to his former team for its 2005
U.S. Open Cup semifinal game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the
Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Should
Minnesota advance to the final, Tarley will be available for his
former team for the 2005 U.S. Open Cup finals.
Tarley began his career with the Thunder during the 2003 season
and logged just 400 minutes during his rookie season, scoring once
in 16 appearances. The speedy forward led Minnesota with eight goals
during the 2004 season, while playing 1,313 minutes in 24 games.
Tarley has a "green card" and will not count as one of RSL's
international players.
"Any player who can score 10 goals in a month has some special
talent," Pastorino said, noting that the striker has scored seven
goals in 25 regular-season games this year, in addition to his
outstanding Open Cup performances. "Melvin Tarley has really grown
as a player and a person with the Minnesota Thunder, and we feel he
is ready to take his game to the next level."
The Liberian native was the youngest player in his country's
history to make 12 appearances for U-21 National team, a feat he
accomplished at the age of 14. In 2002, Tarley recorded 22 goals and
27 assists in 14 games with his amateur team, Alliance FC. One year
later, he joined the Thunder, and after an adjustment period, led
the Thunder in goals (8) and assists (17) in the 24 games played
during his second season with the team.
"Being picked up by Real Salt Lake means a whole lot to me
because I have been training to get into the MLS, especially with a
new team," Tarley said. "I am willing to do what I have been doing
with the Minnesota Thunder, which is score goals, and along with my
new teammates from RSL, I hope to make playoffs. I am excited and
can't wait to play my first game in a Real uniform."
