RSL's bittersweet season ends in tie with Chivas

CARSON, Calif. — If Sunday's effort is any indication, Real Salt Lake is already looking forward to 2007.

With nothing but pride to play for Sunday night, RSL fought for 90 minutes, and Jafet Soto's goal in the 89th minute made it all worth it as Real battled back to earn a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.

"I think we can take a lot of positive out of this draw," said RSL midfielder Chris Klein.

It wasn't easy to get that draw by any means. Less than 24 hours earlier, Real Salt Lake's players and coaches watched helplessly as they were officially eliminated from the playoffs when Colorado rallied for a late draw at Houston.

"The truth of the matter, it was tough," said Jason Kreis. "To go through the emotion we went through last night, and then have to come out and try and play a tough team in a tough atmosphere like this, it was tough."

What made the end result even more satisfying for Real Salt Lake was it had to fight to earn it.

In the 20th minute, Real keeper Scott Garlick saved Francisco Mendoza's left-angled shot, but the rebound deflected toward the far post and straight into the path of the on-rushing Brent Whitfield, who buried the ball for his first MLS goal.

During most of the sequence, Novak lay near the top of the box after tweaking the same left ankle he sprained in the fifth minute. He was replaced by Nelson Akwari.

Whitfield's goal marked the fifth straight game Real Salt Lake surrendered the game's first goal within the first 20 minutes.

Real Salt Lake had several opportunities to equalize during the remainder of the first half. Klein banged a shot off the right post in the 27th minute and 10 minutes later Atiba Harris had a shot glance off the left post and then bounce backward off the goal line.

"A bit unlucky in the first half with a post and a backspin ball going away from the goal," said Real coach John Ellinger.

After inserting Mehdi Ballouchy into the lineup after halftime, RSL was clearly the more dangerous team, outshooting Chivas USA 10-4. Soto's falling down bicycle kick on a cross by Klein made the effort that much sweeter.

Despite all the positive spin the players and coaches put on the draw and the season as a whole, including battling for a playoff spot until the final weekend of the season, RSL still finished 2006 in the same way it finished 2005 — in fifth place.