So, given the number of bizarre, heart-breaking goals allowed during RSL's residence, the decider of Saturday's game in the 72nd minute against visiting Chivas USA felt so familiar.
"Goodbye and good riddance," RSL coach Jason Kreis said moments after Chivas' 1-0 victory before a record crowd of 26,391.
Kreis immediately attempted to joke away his feelings, but in the face of an overall 15-20-13 record at Rice-Eccles, the hope of having a different run of luck in a new stadium was palpable.
Chivas' win was the direct result of another bout of miscommunication with defender Nat Borchers and goalie Nick Rimando. As the pair lay prone following a collision near the top of the 18-yard box, the loose ball glided toward an open net. Just as the ball entered the goal mouth, former RSL forward Alecko Eskandarian gave it one savage kick for emphasis.
"I saw the same thing when Salt Lake was playing New England," Eskandarian said. "It was Borchers and Rimando then, too.
"I just wanted to keep the pressure on."
Eskandarian's diligence meant that for the third consecutive week, a defensive mistake cost RSL points. This time, the home loss left Real tied for third with Colorado, while Chivas leapfrogged Salt Lake into second place of the Western Division.
With three of the last five games on the road, a place where RSL is 1-9-2, the playoff push has taken a definite hit.
"We could have won all three," RSL midfielder Will Johnson said of recent run of misfortune. "Something happens at the end.
"This is a big blow. We've got to win three games [to make the playoffs]."
What made the final even more painful was RSL's control of the game. Salt Lake did everything but score, outshooting Chivas USA 17-8. Good chances were often sent soaring into the spectators in the bleachers behind goal.
Yura Movsisyan had five chances, two on goal, including a point-blank effort fired directly into the chest of Chivas goalie Dan Kennedy, who picked up his first win.
"For some reason, I can't score in league at home," said Movsisyan, who has three goals this season. "I hope this will change when we move to the new stadium."
That would be Oct. 9 against New York. First, RSL must contend with back-to-back road games at San Jose and New England.
"This is a huge disappointment for us," Kreis said. "We've dug ourselves a little bit of a hole. Our mentality is to go on the road and pick up a win now."
