Real Salt Lake found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Saturday. Robbie Findley and Eddie Pope scored second-half goals as RSL came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 before a sold-out crowd at The Home Depot Center.
With the victory, RSL improved to 4-11-5 and now have consecutive victories for the first time since 2006. With 18 points, Real Salt Lake's playoff chances are suddenly brighter than they were a week ago. At 27 points, Colorado has a nine-point edge over RSL, though RSL has a game in hand.
The result, meanwhile, buried the Galaxy, who own a 3-11-5 record and are floundering in last place with just 14 points.
Real Salt Lake, however, dug an early hole when beleaguered Galaxy striker Alan Gordon found the back of the net after just six minutes. Landon Donovan floated a ball to the heart of the penalty area, and Gordon leapt past RSL defender Matias Mantilla and softly headed the ball just out of Nick Rimando's reach.
Alecko Eskandarian nearly pulled the goal back for RSL but his goal two minutes later was disallowed because of an offside call.
Donovan was booked in the 13th minute when he kicked a ball in apparent frustration after he was called for a foul on RSL defender Javier Morales.
Rimando kept the Galaxy's lead at one when he turned away Edson Buddle from short range. Buddle hammered a cross from Chris Klein on goal but Rimando stood firm and kicked the ball away.
The Galaxy continued to put pressure on the visitors and appeared to have doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Gordon put a rebound past Rimando. However, Buddle, who touched the ball before Gordon, was ruled to have been offside.
Galaxy supporters clamored for a penalty kick when Kyle Martino went down inside the penalty area in the 31st minute after contact with Eddie Pope but referee Abbey Okulaja did not award the Galaxy a spot kick.
Rimando was active again in the 32nd minute when Klein darted free inside the penalty area. From the right side of the box, Klein ripped a shot on goal but Rimando dived and parried the ball away. Mantilla headed the rebound back to Rimando.
RSL nearly equalized in first-half injury time when Alecko Eskandarian swung a 20-yard free kick in the 45th minute. Eskandarian sent the ball over the wall but Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin dived and parried the ball away.
RSL defender Carey Talley was called for a foul on Gordon inside the penalty area early in the second half, and the Galaxy's Donovan stepped up to take the spot kick. Normally dependable from the spot, Donovan missed a penalty kick that would have given the Galaxy a victory against Pachuca in the SuperLiga final on Wednesday at The Home Depot Center. Instead, Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero turned him away and the Mexican side went on to win.
Donovan had a chance to redeem himself somewhat when he stepped up to take Saturday's kick against Rimando. Instead, Rimando turned Donovan away just like Calero had done three days earlier.
Robbie Findley replaced Chris Brown in the 58th minute as the rookie returned to face his old club for the first time. Acquired along with Nathan Sturgis for Klein, Findley has had mixed success with RSL and did not play in Wednesday's 3-1 win against Kansas City.
It took Findley nine minutes to show his worth. After Cobi Jones rattled the woodwork from distance, Andy Williams dashed forward and slipped a through ball to Findley. With Mike Randolph on his back, Findley nonetheless controlled the ball and knocked the ball past Cronin from just inside the penalty area.
Findley again caused problems for the Galaxy. In the 70th minute, Findley stepped in front of a pass Abel Xavier sent toward the opposite side of the field. Findley ran right at the Galaxy defense and Troy Roberts knocked him down some 22 yards out. Roberts was booked on the play.
Eskandarian took the free kick and hammered it on goal. Cronin made the save but the rebound fell to Pope. Surrounded by Galaxy defenders, Pope knocked the ball in past a sprawled Cronin to give RSL the lead.
Galaxy defender Troy Roberts was sent off in the 78th minute. He was shown his second yellow card after fouling Chris Wingert.
The Galaxy nearly found the equalizer seconds later, but Gordon hit the crossbar with a header, and they did not threaten again.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
