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Sandy • Judging Saturday's victory on strictly its beauty, Real Salt Lake would not have won many contests.
Then again, the physical Real would not have been named Miss Congeniality, either.
Missed opportunities and an uncomfortable final 20 minutes may have made a comfortable victory a bit more tense than it should have been. RSL once again had to rely on goalkeeper Nick Rimando to secure the three points in the MLS race to the playoffs.
But in the end, RSL did win, handing visiting Philadelphia Union a 2-1 loss before 18,720 spectators at Rio Tinto Stadium.
"We were probably not nearly as sharp as we typically are," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "And we probably didn't make as many good decisions in the attacking third. If we had, I think we would have put that game away."
Real midfielder and captain Kyle Beckerman, playing thanks to the generosity of U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, came up huge, scoring the first goal and assisting on the second, both in the first half.
Then, with RSL cruising along in the 30th minute, the Union struck back with a lightning goal from Sebastien Le Toux. Justin Mapp, on a quick counterattack, found the Philly midfielder with a perfect cross, and Le Toux one-timed the shot by Rimando.
From then on, it was hold on for dear life.
"A gritty performance," was how Beckerman described the game, one that saw RSL (12-7-6) outshoot the Union 17-4. Salt Lake also put eight shots on goal.
And while RSL's finishing touch on the offensive end may have been lacking, the team's work rate never waned.
"When its not so pretty, you're going to have to put in the effort," Beckerman said. "I thought the effort from the beginning of the game to the end was outstanding. That's what helped us win the game."
RSL forward Fabian Espindola was among those constant workers. And his efforts paid off in several opportunities. He was unlucky as the Union keepers were fortunate.
"For me, he was really fantastic," Kreis said. "He's a player right now looking to make a difference for us. He was really making things happen."
What's happening now are two consecutive wins and a trending upward. RSL's stumbles a few weeks ago now look like ancient history as it prepares for Seattle in a week.
"We're glad we got out with a second-half shutout," said RSL defender Chris Schuler, scorer of the eventual game winner. He headed a crossing pass from a Beckerman corner into the net in the 26th minute.
Eight minutes earlier, Beckerman, dribbling outside the 18-yard box, let loose a cannon shot into the right corner to open the scoring and send RSL on its way.
"It was a huge game for us," Beckerman said. "We have to keep trying to improve...staying strong as we move toward the playoffs."
RSL 2, Union 1
R In the first half, RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman scores a goal and assists on another.
• RSL earns its second consecutive victory and limits Philadelphia to two shots on goal. —
MLS standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA
Columbus 11 8 7 40 31 30
Sporting K.C. 9 8 9 36 38 34
Houston 8 8 11 35 34 33
Philadelphia 8 7 10 34 31 26
New York 6 6 14 32 41 37
D.C. 7 7 10 31 34 35
Chicago 4 7 15 27 30 33
Toronto FC 4 12 12 24 26 49
New England 4 11 11 23 26 39
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA
Los Angeles 14 3 9 51 37 20
Seattle 13 5 9 48 42 29
FC Dallas 13 7 7 46 36 29
Real Salt Lake 12 7 6 42 35 21
Colorado 10 7 11 41 39 36
Portland 9 12 5 32 33 41
Chivas USA 7 10 10 31 32 30
San Jose 5 10 11 26 27 35
Vancouver 4 13 9 21 27 42
Saturday's game
Real Salt Lake 2, Philadelphia 1
Monday's game
Los Angeles at Sporting Kansas City, 4 p.m.
Wednesday's game
New England at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.