Real Salt Lake were unable to end their three-year, seven-match winless drought at The Home Depot Center as the visitors were dropped 3-1 by Chivas USA on Saturday night.
With the loss, RSL's road woes against Chivas USA continued with an all-time record of 0-6-1 against its one-time expansion brethren.
Chivas USA were powered by goals on either side of halftime by Sacha Kljestan and Atiba Harris with Alecko Eskandarian providing the exclamation point. Kenny Deuchar struck for RSL in the second half.
RSL's finishing woes continued for much of the match as they were unable to convert on all but one of their opportunities against a Chivas USA side who were without regulars Ante Razov (injury) and defender Claudio Suarez (bereavement leave).
Dema Kovalenko got the game off to a physical start when he picked up a yellow card for a hard tackle from behind on Chivas USA midfielder Francisco Mendoza.
On the ensuing free kick, Jesse Marsch swung a ball into the RSL penalty area that was headed directly at goalkeeper Nick Rimando by midfielder Chris Pozniak.
RSL and Chivas USA each had good opportunities at goal in a minute span. First, in the 14th minute, Kyle Beckerman hit a 20-yard shot just over the crossbar. Then, Chivas USA caught RSL standing in the midfield and nearly made them pay. Maykel Galindo sped down the right flank before striking a hard, low pass across the goal towards an oncoming Mendoza. Mendoza, however, whiffed on his attempt and the ball rolled harmlessly out of play.
In the 32nd minute Galindo again set up a Chivas USA scoring attempt, racing out of midfield and sending a long pass to Kljestan on the right. This time, though, Kljestan made no mistake as he struck a first-time attempt from just inside the RSL penalty area past a diving Rimando to give the hosts a one-goal advantage.
RSL nearly countered four minutes later. Robbie Findley showed his speed as he took the ball deep into the Chivas USA half, past a defender, and towards the right side of the penalty area. Findley then passed the ball low across the mouth of the goal only to see Deuchar send his sliding attempt from less than a yard from goal straight into the air and over the crossbar.
Chivas USA struck again in the 55th minute. This time Kljestan was on the giving end, sending a low pass across the goal area that was knocked into the goal by Harris.
It didn't take RSL long to answer, though. Two minutes later, Javier Morales sent a long free kick into the center of the Chivas USA penalty area that was headed down and past Brad Guzan by Deuchar to cut the deficit in half. The goal was Deuchar's first of his MLS career.
The goal gave RSL new life. Coach Jason Kreis looked to his bench in the 64th minute, bringing in veteran midfielder Andy Williams for Carey Talley. The move nearly paid instant dividends as Williams hit a blazing shot that sailed just wide of the goal only seconds after entering the match.
Momentum began to sway in favor of RSL as they had the majority of possession.
In the 74th minute, Yura Movsisyan nearly set up an RSL goal but his pass across the goalmouth was just cleared away by a Chivas USA defender.
Rimando made two big saves in the 88th minute. First, he ran 20 yards outside of the penalty area to head away a loose ball just before Alecko Eskandarian was able to reach it. Then, he made a save on a point-blank shot by Paulo Nagamura who had entered the RSL area unmarked.
Eskandarian took advantage of RSL's push forward in the third minute of stoppage time as he dribbled around Rimando on a breakaway run before coolly knocking the ball into an empty net.
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
