with a shutout loss.
Chivas USA used two goals by Ante Razov and one from Juan Pablo Garcia to down the new look RSL 3-0 in both clubs' sophomore season opener at The Home Depot Center on Sunday afternoon.
Despite fielding eight new players acquired in the offseason, Salt Lake was plagued by a lack offensive punch, in much the same way they were last year when they finished with a league-low 30 goals in 32 games.
And Salt Lake's defense fared no better than last year's group, when they gave up the second-highest goal total in the league.
Andy Williams, one of the few holdovers from last year's squad, struggled in his new role in central midfield, while veteran additions Chris Klein and Jeff Cunningham both were non-factors in their debuts. Williams was scarcely able to generate any offense with his new look offensive front. Making matters worse was the fact that veteran goal scorer Jason Kreis was forced into a late substitution role as he recovers from a leg injury.
On defense, the addition of Carey Talley and Costa Rican international Daniel Torres did little to shore up the porous backline of a year ago.
Instead, it was Chivas USA - who also made wholesale changes during the offseason - that controlled the match from the outset and took away the three points for the win.
Chivas had the first clear look of the afternoon when in the third minute Juan Francisco Palencia hit a one-time shot just wide right of the net from 10 yards out.
Two minutes later, Chivas defender Tim Regan put a head on a Palencia corner kick but Real goalkeeper Scott Garlick was there to make the save.
New Salt Lake acquisition Jeff Cunningham showed an early flash of his offensive prowess in the seventh minute, dibbling around four Chivas defender and striking a hard shot that forced 'keeper Brad Guzan to make a save on. Unfortunately for Salt Lake, it would be the closest Cunningham would get to the net in the game.
A Chris Brown mistake nearly cost Salt Lake a goal in the 15th minute. Brown misplayed a ball deep in the Salt Lake defensive third and Francisco Mendoza pounced on the loose ball, passing to a streaking Palencia seven yards from goal. But Palencia's quick shot, with only Garlick to beat, missed just wide of the left post.
Chivas broke through in the 21st minute. Veteran Mexican defender Claudio Suarez sent a free kick near midfield into the top of the penalty area. Salt Lake midfielder Douglas Sequiera got tangled with a Chivas defender as he ran to clear the ball, however, opening a wide open space for Razov. The MLS veteran collected the ball and shot past Garlick for the goal, his first wearing the red and white.
Less than four minutes later, Chivas struck again. This time it was Garcia who controlled a ball from 25 yards out and with his back to the goal, quickly turned and let loose a well-placed shot that found the left side netting past Garlick. Salt Lake was unable to recover from the quick goals.
Salt Lake nearly stole one back at the half hour mark when Sequiera headed Klein's corner kick just over the crossbar from eight yards out.
Razov almost made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when he had a clear look at goal from 12 yards out. But his well-struck shot went directly to Garlick, who had no trouble making the save.
In the 65th minute, Razov made no mistake about the result however, dribbling past Salt Lake defender Carey Talley and Cunningham before hitting a 25-yard blast past Garlick for his second goal of the afternoon.
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
