RSL ends long winless streak

CARSON, Calif. — Real Salt Lake exorcized a whole bunch of demons Saturday night.

For a franchise mired in an 18-game winless streak dating back to last August, beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0 at the Home Depot Center Saturday night was as much about relief as euphoria.

Rookie Atiba Harris gave RSL a lead midway through the first half, and second-half substitute Jeff Cunningham piled it on even more with a pair of goals as Salt Lake recorded its first road victory in franchise history.

"Obviously it's been pent-up frustration, you're asking yourself why, it's unfair, and a variety of things go through your head," said Real coach John Ellinger. "But the bottom line is I believed in these guys from the beginning. I thought we had a good team this year, and I'm hoping we can get something going.

"I think tonight the guys started to believe in themselves, and that's a good thing."

With the win, RSL improved to 1-5-1 on the season, and moved into a fifth-place tie with CD Chivas USA in the Western Conference standings.

It's not a huge jump, but with everything Salt Lake has endured in the last nine months, the coach and players will take it gladly.

Unlike his first career goal against the Galaxy two weeks ago, in which he tapped in a Jason Kreis cross, Harris earned his goal Saturday in impressive fashion. Near the top of the box with his back to the goal, Harris received a pass from Carey Talley, freed himself from Tyrone Marshall with a quick turn, and after two dribbles whipped the ball past Hartman.

It wasn't necessarily surprising that RSL scored first in the 17th minute — after all, it scored first in three of its previous six games. It's what RSL did with the lead that was impressive.

The average length of RSL's three previous leads was a measly five minutes. It held the lead for seven minutes against Dallas, three against Houston and five against the Galaxy two weeks ago. On Saturday, amazingly, Salt Lake held on to it until halftime.

"Getting through the half without giving up an equalizer was a big step for the season. It hadn't happened," said Ellinger.

As it turns out, it was Salt Lake's first road halftime lead in franchise history.