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MLS Real Salt Lake

RSL blank Chivas, move into playoff contention

August 27, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Needing a full three points in the worst way, Real Salt Lake proved equal to the task against Chivas USA. RSL dominated from start to finish on Wednesday night en route to a 4-0 victory at Rio Tinto Stadium. Three different forwards -- Pablo Campos, Fabian Espindola and Robbie Findley (twice) -- each scored to lead the Claret-and-Cobalt. A victory now puts RSL into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with Colorado.

Will Johnson quickly took it upon himself to try and create things for the RSL offense early in the first half. First, Johnson tried to slot the ball in from an angle on the right side of the area in the ninth minute. His shot fell wide when Chivas 'keeper Zach Thornton got his fingertips on the ball and pushed it off target.

Then Johnson came back a minute later and unleashed a low shot at Thornton as he scrambled to recover his position after coming off the line. Thornton came through with a save once again, clearing the shot away with a well-placed kick.

Chivas gave RSL a scare in the 23rd minute. A corner kick taken by Carey Talley was deflected out of the penalty area and the ball found its way to Jesus Padilla. Needing only one touch, Padilla boomed a low shot from 20 yards out that wove through a sea of players.

The potentially deadly shot was knocked away by RSL 'keeper Nick Rimando at the last second when he dove to push the ball wide of the left post.

It was Real's turn to take a stab at breaking the deadlock in the 31st minute. Johnson fired a free kick into the middle of the box, only to have Thornton dive out and punch the ball away to safety.

RSL produced another near miss in the 38th minute when Andy Williams hooked up with Espindola, feeding him a pass from the middle as Espindola was streaking into the left side of the area. Espindola shot for the near post and Thornton charged off the line, slid and blocked the ball with his chest. The shot then rolled just wide of the left post.

The Utah side finally found the back of the net in the 43rd minute. Campos scored his first goal in an RSL uniform after Espindola fed a cross into him at the top of the six. Campos headed the ball forward and slotted it perfectly between Thornton and the right post to put RSL up 1-0.

Breaking the ice only intensified efforts from RSL to put away Chivas for good in the second half. The fact that Thornton had to retire to the bench at the half after tweaking a strained quad muscle seemed to only help their position. Thornton was injured in his last appearance at Rio Tinto, for the MLS All-Star Game.

Williams unleashed a straightaway shot in the 60th minute. The ball was on frame, but backup 'keeper Lance Parker made the save.

Johnson took another crack at finding the net in the 63rd minute. He made a nice run down the left flank and cut past Talley into the penalty area. Johnson pulled up from about 15 yards out and lofted a floater that sailed wide past the right post.

Chivas nearly came up with an equalizer during the 69th minute when Sacha Kljestan lofted a long ball from 25 yards away to Maykel Galindo deep in the penalty area. Galindo tried to curl his effort inside the left post, but it bounced wide instead.

It was Espindola who finally hit pay dirt again for RSL in the 75th minute when he scored an unassisted goal to make it 2-0. Espindola charged down the left flank, juked Talley and blasted a left-footer after pulling up inside the penalty area. The ball sailed past Parker as he dived and found the upper corner of the net.

Findley put the cherry on top for Salt Lake after coming in as a substitute for Campos in the 66th minute.

He scored the first time in the 85th minute when he latched onto a long pass from Wingert -- taking the ball perfectly in stride -- and sidestepped Talley to thread an off-balance right-footer past Parker and into the net for a 3-0 lead.

Then Findley tacked on a second and final goal in the 90th minute when he sent a ball careening off the right post and behind Parker.

Both teams have quick turnarounds for their next games, each playing on Saturday. Real Salt Lake travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards, while Chivas USA will face the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center in the third SuperClasico of the season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 27, 2009


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