trying to fend off the crashing Moreno -- and into the net.
• United boss Tom Soehn made three changes from his first XI in the 4-0 loss to RSL as he returned to his first-choice group. Back in were Zach Wells, Gonzalo Martinez and Marcelo Gallardo, replacing Jose Carvallo, Domenic Mediate and Rod Dyachenko.
• Here's Soehn's team (4-3-1-2): Zach Wells - Bryan Namoff, Gonzalo Martinez, Gonzalo Peralta, Marc Burch (Franco Niell 57) - Devon McTavish (Santino Quaranta 68), Clyde Simms, Fred - Marcelo Gallardo - Luciano Emilio, Jaime Moreno (Rod Dyachenko 57). Substitutes Not Used: Jose Carvallo, Quavas Kirk, Domenic Mediate, Dan Stratford
• "I didn't think we were as sharp as we needed to be. We talked all week about breaking them down, and making sure that [Guillermo Barros] Schelotto and [Alejandro] Moreno on the counter attacks didn't hurt us. We gave them way too much space and they punished us for it," Soehn said.
TEAM NEWS
• As much as United has tried to avoid it, the club has once again seemingly been afflicted with the "CONCACAF hangover" that affects MLS clubs after participating in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in the opening weeks of the league campaign. Houston, the league's other participant this season, has started the season without a win in their first four matches.
• "We found openings, we just didn't finish our chances, and that seems to be the saga the last few games," said Soehn. "So I don't want to keep going back to tired legs, because it's getting old for me. But we need to rest, and then this week we're going to work really hard to make sure we're clinical in the areas we need to be clinical in."
• The match had been dubbed as the "Yankee SuperClasíco", matching Argentinean playmakers who had faced each other in the big derby of the Pampas - Boca Juniors (Schelotto) vs. River Plate (Gallardo).
• It hurts more to lose a game at home than to lose a dinner [previous bet]," Gallardo said. "Of the four games, we've lost three - not what we had hoped. We all wanted to get a good result but we don't have to get desperate, we have to work to correct our mistakes."
• A year ago, United suffered through an 0-3-1 stretch to begin the season. Included in this year's 1-3-0 start is the 4-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, the fourth match in a five-match string over 20 days.
• "We've been through a tough stretch. I feel this is déjà vu from last year," said Soehn. "We've got a long week coming up and we're going to work hard to make sure we are where we need to be, because we're not there yet."
• Looking to give the attack a jumpstart, United signed former New York Red Bulls striker and Liberian international Francis Doe to a contract. While he is not expected to be available for Saturday, he could be in uniform for the match in Colorado the following weekend.
• "In the time that we've had him, he's given us a different dimension than some of the other guys we have," said Soehn. "He's dynamic with his pace, holds the ball well and he's finished [well] so far. On that side, you like adding a piece that you don't have and you want to see what he turns into, having him in our system for a while."
• Soehn was also quick to add that Doe's addition was not an indictment of 2007 MLS Golden Boot winner Luciano Emilio, who has scored just two goals in eight games in all competitions despite having a passel of chances.
• "As far as Luciano's sake, I think he's fighting the game a little bit," said the second-year boss. "He wants to score so bad. But it'll come, and when it does come, we have the confidence in him that we did last year, that they're going to come in bunches. So we just have to make sure that we're harder to play against and the rest will fall into place."
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake began their two-game road swing on a down note, the only goal of the game coming from a free kick in a 1-0 loss to Toronto FC last Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. Real have four points from four matches, in a three-way tie for third place in the Western Conference with Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy, four points behind FC Dallas.
LAST MATCH
• Toronto FC were returning home following just the club's second-ever win on the road, a 3-2 victory at the Los Angeles Galaxy, while Real Salt Lake were coming off their first victory of the new season, 4-0 at home against D.C. United.
• The game's lone goal came just after the half-hour mark. Amado Guevara was tripped up almost right on the line marking the penalty area, and Laurent Robert drove the resulting free kick under the RSL wall and past goalkeeper Nick Rimando for his first MLS goal.
• Real were held without an attempt at goal over the opening 45 minutes, but turned the tide in the second half. Yet their best chance didn't find the target, a full volley from Dema Kovalenko screwing well wide of the right-hand post from the heart of the area.
• RSL head coach Jason Kreis made one change to the team that defeated D.C. United 4-0 the Saturday before. Robbie Findley came back into the starting team, replacing Fabian Espindola.
• Here's Kreis's team (4-3-1-2): Nick Rimando - Chris Wingert, Matias Mantilla, Nat Borchers, Ian Joy (Andy Williams 62) - Dema Kovalenko (Yura Movsisyan 79), Nathan Sturgis (Carey Talley 27), Kyle Beckerman - Javier Morales - Kenny Deuchar, Robbie Findley. Substitutes Not Used: Tony Beltran, Fabian Espindola, Jamison Olave, Chris Seitz
• "I think we came out tactically and played that game a little bit wrong, to be honest," said Kreis. "The coaching staff takes full responsibility for that. [We were] sitting back when perhaps we should've pressed them from minute one, which is the tactic we took up in the second half."
TEAM NEWS
• Real managed only one attempt at goal in the opening 45 minutes and barely got the ball out of their own end. After the break, they had more of the ball and created more chances.
• "Tactically I thought we had to go out and high-press them as we would at home, treating it as though it was our home game for the first 15 minutes," Kreis said. "And I thought the soccer needed to be better. I thought there wasn't enough space between the ball and our guys were giving the ball away a bit needlessly in the first half."
• Kreis tinkered with his formation midway through the second half, bringing on midfielder Andy Williams for Ian Joy in the 63rd minute and going with a 3-5-2 formation. RSL immediately got a pair of good scoring chances and ultimately outshot the Reds 8-4 in the second half.
• "We responded well," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "We didn't get the goal, but we responded well. We showed some good soccer which we can do. If we can just do that right from the start, we'll be all right."
• Still, despite the loss and the poor opening 45 minutes, Kreis was pleased with the way his club dealt with Toronto FC and felt they still deserved to come away with something.
• "We've got a really good understanding of how we want to defend as a team," Kreis said. "Again, it's not about the two center backs, or the back four, or the back four plus one. It's about the effort the entire team puts forth defensively."
• Said goalkeeper Nick Rimando: "When we went at them in the second half, it seemed like we played better and defended better. We got some opportunities and going into D.C. that's what we're going to need. We're going to need more opportunities to win the game."
• Midfielder Nathan Sturgis is listed as out for the United match. Sturgis suffered a hamstring strain on Saturday in Toronto and had to be carried off the field in the 27th minute.
