With only four games left until playoffs, Real Salt Lake delivered an aggressive game at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, ending the game 4-0 against Chivas USA.
“I was really pleased with the players’ performance overall,” RSL coach Jason Kreis said on ESPN 700. “I was really pleased to see a much improved second half and a much improved performace over last week’s game.”
After sitting out one game because of a shoulder injury, Alvaro Saborio came back strong for RSL.
Before the eighth minute, Fabian Espindola chipped a long shot towards the box and Saborio completed it with a slight kick to the bottom left side of net, registering the first goal of the night for RSL.
Less than three minutes later, Espindola got possession of the ball again, brought the goalkeeper out to the right side of the box and passed the ball to the left, where Saborio buried the wide-open goal.
Towards the end of the second half, Javier Morales skipped the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, but the ball was stopped within inches of the goal line by Chivas defender John Valencia.
At the beginning of the second half, Chivas looked as if they could even out the score, but RSL took control once more at the 64th minute with another goal.
The goal started with a failed attempt by Luis Gil, which was quickly picked up by Saborio who gave RSL their third goal of the night. Saborio set a new record by being the first RSL player to have 17 goals in one season.
RSL delivered once more in the 81st minute when Paulo Junior, assisted by Espindola, fired a direct shot into the top right corner of the goal, ending the game 4-0.
“The performance of the entire team tonight should put us in a good place for next week.” Kreis said.
Real Salt Lake’s strong win against Chivas USA puts them in a comfortable position in the Western Conference and guarantees them at least one playoff game at Rio Tinto Stadium.
RSL only has one week to prepare before they travel back to the Home Depot Center to play the Los Angeles Galaxy.
