Lineup change along backline works wonders

CARSON, Calif. — With some key players away on national team duty, changes to the Real Salt Lake backline were inevitable. Few could've expected that coach John Ellinger would mix things up quite like he did Saturday night.

Of the four starting defenders in last weekend's home loss to Columbus, only rookie Willis Forko started in the same spot during RSL's 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In an effort to help RSL snap its six-game winless streak this season, Ellinger utilized a backline that featured Forko on the left, Kevin Novak on the right, and Nelson Akwari and Daniel Torres started centrally.

Despite the shake-ups, Novak was the only newcomer to the starting lineup. Torres was a starter at left back the first five games before an injury sidelined him for the Columbus match. Akwari, meanwhile, cracked the starting lineup for the first time last week at right back.

The move also enabled Carey Talley to move into his more natural holding midfield position after starting at the back the first six weeks.

It worked to perfection as RSL recorded is first shutout since blanking FC Dallas on July 23 at Rice-Eccles Stadium last year.

The flurry of adjustments was necessary with Douglas Sequeira (Costa Rica) and Eddie Pope (U.S.A.) joining their respective national teams earlier this week in preparation for the World Cup.

For Novak, a Southern California native, no doubt he was finally glad to step on the field with the senior squad.

When Salt Lake was eliminated from playoff contention toward the end of last season, Ellinger began looking toward the future, which included starting Novak in the final two games of the season. His tenacity and work rate, as well as a goal against San Jose, made an immediate impression on the RSL coaching staff. So much so that they bumped him from a developmental contract to a senior roster contract this season.

A natural midfielder, Novak spent some time at the back during preseason, and Ellinger was pleased enough with what he saw to start him there against the Galaxy.

FINALLY: For Salt Lake, the win snapped several very dubious streaks.

Entering Saturday's game with L.A., Salt Lake was in the midst of an MLS-record 18-game winless streak, dating back to last August. It also owned a league-record 19-game road winless streak, a 20-game winless streak on grass and a five-game losing streak at the Home Depot Center.