
Real Salt Lake looks like it has finally found the right combination of defense and offense Saturday at the Home Depot Center, dispatching of the Los Angeles Galaxy in rather simple fashion, 2-0.
“Everything came up together for us tonight, and that’s a solid sign,” said RSL head coach Jason Kreis. “I told my players in the locker room, ‘Welcome back.’”
The win catapulted RSL into a tie for fifth place with the Galaxy. More importantly, however, was the fact that forward Yura Movsisyan--who had struggled mightily in his initial games of the 2009-10 campaign--seems to be back on the right track scoring-wise after now tallying goals in his last two matches.
Movsisyan, back home in L.A., seemed right at home from the start with his back to goal and it didn’t take long for him to get RSL moving.
Several attacking chances by the Galaxy led to Yura’s goal in the 13th minute, kick started by a great through ball from RSL midfielder Clint Mathis, which found the foot of Movsisyan who then danced around Galaxy midfielder Eddie Lewis before rifling a shot into side netting past LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
“It’s huge for us. It’s huge not just for myself, but for the team. Obviously, my job is to score goals and give the team a spark,” said Movisysan. “And I think at the moment we are doing that, and as a team, we are playing very confident now.”
The only real threat to RSL’s clean sheet all evening was former Real troublemaker Dema Kovalenko, who had several good scoring chances, all of which were thwarted by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
RSL broke the scoring bank minutes into the second half when defender Nat Borchers redirected a corner kick into the net following some confusion in the LA defense. It was Borchers’ first MLS goal in more than four years.
The score held up through the last 35 minutes or so and RSL used their 4-3-3 formation with good results, netting points for the second straight game and their first road win of the season.
“I am very pleased. It’s a big win. It is our first road victory in the season, and it’s our first win after a long time,” said Kreis. “I am glad that we took a win after many disappointments. To see your players putting a lot of effort and dedication is great.”
More on Real Salt Lake: Forward Robbie Findley missed the L.A. match and is questionable for this Saturday's game at league leader Houston. Andy Williams also missed the Galaxy match, attending to his ill wife Marcia as she continues undergoing treatment in Seattle for her leukemia.