This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Sandy • Year 1 was bad. It was awkwardly bad. Major League Soccer's two expansion franchises, Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, combined for 44 losses in 2005. Together, they managed just 10 victories. Hard to believe now that initially, it was Chivas which turned the corner first by drafting talented players and making key signings to fortify a club that otherwise looked lost in its initial season in MLS.

It is almost harder to believe that RSL is where it was those first three years, scraping by on the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium as rumors eventually swirled of the club's potential exit from the Beehive State.

Ten seasons have since flashed by. RSL is a one-time MLS Cup champion, has been to four respective Cup finals and is in the postseason for the seventh-straight season. Chivas is so far removed from those early successes — the Goats qualified for the playoff from 2006 to 2009, even earning the No. 1 seed out West in 2009 — that some casual MLS fans would probably know of only the decline.

Wednesday night's match between the 2005 expansion compatriots will very likely be the last. Various reports in the last month have indicate that an ownership group has lined up to purchase Chivas from the league, dissolve the brand and repurpose the franchise anew. possibly in two years.

"We can only concentrate on ourselves," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said, "but they're playing for pride, they're playing for jobs … it's now an audition, so you're probably going to get the best Chivas has got."

Garth Lagerwey stressed he has received no indication from MLS or Chivas that the franchise will be sold or repurposed when the season ends. But RSL's general manager said it's clear that the vision for the potential of Chivas USA — partnered with Mexican giant Chivas de Guadalajara — eventually changed. And not necessarily for the good. The direction of the club veered, mainly by acquiring Hispanic players and marketing specifically to the that demographic.

"I don't think people made crazy choices," Lagerwey said. "They wanted to make a unique brand and played off it, but I think the weaknesses of that were seen. Basically, you took a large market and you made it a small market by focusing on one segment of it. I think people underestimated the universality of the Chivas brand. I think there was some arrogance behind that."

While Chivas made playoff run after playoff run with the likes of Brad Guzan, Sacha Kjlestan, Ante Razov and others, RSL stockpiled talent with the arrival of Lagerwey, the appointment of Jason Kreis as head coach and a slate of shrewd moves to hopefully reverse the course of a bottom-feeder.

Eventually, a crossroad was reached for each club. RSL ascended into an annual contender built off continuity, while Chivas' off-the-field drama shown through onto the pitch. Former owners Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes were in the midst of various lawsuits surrounding the club, and eventually, MLS purchased the sole rights to Chivas USA from Vergara this past February.

With the growth of MLS and soccer in America, it appears that losing a club — even if temporarily — represents a step backward.

"I actually think you had to do something to change that trajectory," Lagerwey said, "because that brand does not work. And you can't maintain that you're in a professional league when you draw a couple thousand [fans] a game, particularly when the rest of the league averages 15,000-plus. It's just an eyesore."

Chivas USA at RSL

O At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff • Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

TV • CW30. Radio • 700 AM

Records • RSL 14-8-11; Chivas USA 8-18-6

Last meeting • Chivas USA 1, RSL 0 (Oct. 5 at StubHub Center)

About RSL • RSL enters its regular-season finale against Chivas USA seeking is first win of 2014 against the Goats. … RSL is 0-2-0 against Chivas this year and is looking to avoid going winless against Chivas for the first time since 2007. … In fourth place in the Western Conference, RSL needs a win Wednesday to remain in contention for the No. 3 seed. … A win against Chivas, partnered with an FC Dallas draw/loss at home to Portland Saturday secures RSL the third seed. … The club has earned back-to-back shutouts in a win against San Jose and a draw at Portland. … RSL is 6-3-3 all time at home against Chivas.

About Chivas USA • The Goats have won back-to-back matches after beating both RSL and Colorado. … Chivas is 12-12-4 all time against RSL. … The Goats have conceded 59 goals in 32 matches in 2014. … Their 28 goals scored in 2014 is the lowest amount of goals scored by a team at this point of the season. … Chivas' minus-31 goal differential is the worst in MLS. … Striker Erick Torres leads the club with 15 goals.