SANDY, Utah -- Alvaro Saborio and Joao Plata each scored in the second half to
help Real Salt Lake overcome a slow start to earn a 2-1 victory over Chivas USA
on Wednesday night.
Brandon Linder Jaguars Jersey . Real Salt
Lake (16-10-8) clinched a top-two seed heading into the MLS playoffs. RSL can
clinch the top seed in the west if Chivas beats or draws Portland on Saturday.
Chivas (6-19-8) threatened a late rally after a goal from reserve forward Julio
Morales in the 77th minute, but the Goats couldnt bridge the gap and fell to RSL
for the third time this season. RSL got on board in the 49th minute when Saborio
slotted a penalty kick inside the right post. Salt Lake took a two-goal lead in
the 52nd minute on Platas goal. After a failed attack by Javier Morales, Plata
collected the ball outside the 18-yard box and fired it down the middle, burying
a low shot inside the left post. "We know that weve been struggling to score
goals lately and I think its one of those situations where one comes, its going
to be coming in bunches," Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said. "If you look at
that game, we should have probably scored three at least, maybe four goals. On a
different night we put those away and make the game easy for ourselves." Morales
scored when he got behind Tony Beltran and latched onto a long cross from Carlo
Chueca. Morales drew goalie Nick Rimando off his line and slipped the ball past
his left side for the goal. "The players were respecting the opponent, but they
didnt stop fighting," Chivas coach Jose Luis Real said. "We had very good
possession against a very good team and the fight the guys put on the field was
very remarkable." Salt Lake controlled possession throughout the first half as
Chivas USA packed the box on the defensive end to keep RSL off the scoreboard.
It resulted in plenty of scoring opportunities for the home team before halftime
-- none of which RSL could finish. Kyle Beckerman bent a free kick on the frame
to force a corner kick in the 22nd minute. Beckerman played it as a short corner
and worked the ball into the middle of the box. Yordany Alvarez headed a
point-blank shot down the middle,