Just not for RSL.

While RSL's trio of newly signed Argentine players mostly stayed on the bench, the Fire used its recent superstar signings to spectacular effect - winning 2-0 in front of 18,913 fans on goals by international legends Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Paulo Wanchope.

Both players scored for the first time since joining the Fire late last month, ruining RSL's hopes of building a winning streak and moving out of last place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference as it heads into the most challenging stretch of its season.

"We just weren't quite good enough," dispirited RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "The passing wasn't good enough. Our final pass wasn't good enough. Our shots on goal, those weren't good enough. The soccer tonight wasn't quite good enough."

Heard that before?

RSL lost for the fifth time in its last six games, falling to 2-10-6 and suggesting yet again that despite its recent roster overhaul, it still doesn't have what it takes to make a push for the playoffs.

"There's no real explanation for that," striker Alecko Eskandarian said. "I can't blame anyone, I can't really point any fingers or anything. . . . I don't even know what to say, to be honest with you."

While much of the pro-Mexican crowd was eager to cheer Blanco every time he made a move - "that was the first time I heard our own crowd booing us," Eskandarian said - RSL controlled most of the first half with quick, precision passing.

But when striker Robbie Findley hit the far post in the 17th minute and watched the Fire ultimately clear the rebound that had trickled back in front of the net, he seemed to set an unfortunate tone. RSL missed on all kinds of chances - including two shots into traffic from inside the box by newly acquired striker Fabian Espindola in the 76th minute. Findley also tripped over the ball while racing to take what would have been a point-blank shot from inside the box late in the game.

"Maybe the emotions got the best of us a little bit, as well," Kreis said. "When you do come out that passionate and that strong and all over them, maybe you don't calm yourself down enough when you get the ball to execute properly."

Espindola was the only one of the three Argentines to play for RSL, and by the time he entered the game for Eskandarian in the 58th minute, RSL already was straining to fight back from Blanco's brilliant left-footed blast just before halftime.

Left alone after a throw-in, the Mexican veteran of two World Cups easily drilled a shot from 25 yards away into the top right corner of the net, rendering goalkeeper Nick Rimando helpless and allowing the fans wearing the yellow jersey of his former club to erupt in celebration.

"Just an unbelievable shot by a great player," RSL's Kyle Beckerman said.

The goal "changed the whole game," Eskandarian said, and indeed, RSL was never the same again. The Fire dominated the second half, with Wanchope - the Costa Rican veteran of two World Cups, as well - ultimately sealing the victory with a header off Blanco's corner kick in the 78th minute and allowing the Fire to improve to 6-8-5.

mcl@sltrib.com