This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Carson, Calif. • There are no gimmes. That much was crystal clear on a steamy Sunday afternoon in Southern California. Real Salt Lake was once again served a harsh reminder of that against one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer.
With a chance to clinch its seventh-straight berth in the MLS Cup playoffs, RSL fell flat in the opportunity in a lackluster 1-0 loss to Chivas USA. The win was the Chivas' first in 12 games — the Goats were previously 0-11-1 entering Sunday — and astonishingly enough their second against RSL so far this season.
However great the result was for the stumbling Goats, rumored to be dissolved this offseason, the final whistle signified a massive missed opportunity for RSL, which is now 2-4-1 in its last seven league matches.
It was noted by RSL coach Jeff Cassar and players in the locker room: The team simply didn't play up to its potential against Chivas. Passes were off. Giveaways were common, and when a chance came to test goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, one too many passes turned into nothing.
"I don't think anyone was sharp tonight," Cassar said. "It's tough for anyone to shine in that game."
In full control in the first 45 minutes, RSL pinged the ball around the field as Chivas, content to sit back and watch, waited for an opportune time to strike. Two minutes into the second half, the Goats did. A giveaway by substitute Rich Balchan — who replaced Chris Schuler after the center back left with a suspected broken nose — led to Chivas leading scorer Erick Torres attempting a chip over goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
The ball bounced off the crossbar into the way of onrushing Felix Borja. The striker buried the ball in the back of the net.
"With situations like this, we all just need to play better," defender Nat Borchers said. "The quality for us just wasn't there. On the road, there's going to be games like that when the quality isn't there. But we have to fight through it."
As is so often the case, once a team managed a lead on RSL, it bunkered down even more so. RSL sent wave after wave of attack, searching for ways to put the ball into the box or string together passes through the Chivas back line.
It amounted to zilch.
Rimando kept his team within striking distance. He saved a penalty-kick attempt in the 64th minute as Torres' stutter-step didn't fool RSL's noted PK expert. He also kept Leandro Barrera out of the back of the net in the 73rd minute with a fantastic left-handed save. But RSL couldn't punish a team that entered Sunday having conceded a league-high 58 goals.
Cassar placed blame on himself.
"I need to do a better job as a coach to prepare the team for situations like this," he said.
Indeed.
RSL's next three come against lowly San Jose, playoff hopeful Portland and — surprise, surprise — Chivas USA at home on Oct. 22.
"I feel like it's not the worst thing for us," captain Kyle Beckerman said. "We could use a little wake-up call."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Storylines
• For the second time in 2014, RSL falls to lowly Chivas USA on the road.
• Chivas striker Felix Borja gives the Goats a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
• RSL's Nick Rimando stops Erick Torres' penalty kick in the 64th minute. —
Chivas USA 1,Real Salt Lake 0
Real Salt Lake 0 0 — 0
Chivas USA 0 1 — 1
First half » None.
Second half » 1, Chivas USA, Borja 1, 47th minute.
Goalies » Real Salt Lake, Nick Rimando Chivas USA, Dan Kennedy.
Yellow Cards • Minda, Chivas USA, 22nd Mulholland, Real Salt Lake, 77th Sturgis, Chivas USA, 82nd Morales, Real Salt Lake, 85th.
Referee • David Gantar. Assistant Referees—Frank Anderson. Eduardo Mariscal. 4th Official—Daniel Radford..
Attendance » 12,271 (27,000)
Lineups
RSL • Nick Rimando, Chris Schuler (Rich Balchan, 39th), Carlos Salcedo, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Luke Mulholland, Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Alvaro Saborio (Robbie Findley, 60th), Joao Plata.
Chivas • Dan Kennedy, Bobby Burling, Akira Kaji, Oswaldo Minda, Matthew Dunn, Nigel Reo-Coker (Nathan Sturgis, 74th), Eriq Zavaleta, Leandro Barrera (Marvin Chavez, 88th), Erick Torres, Donald Toia, Felix Borja (Agustin Pelletieri, 89th).