RSL quickly becomes road kill

CARSON, Calif. — It took a mere 30 seconds for Real Salt Lake to fall apart in their first road game of the year.

Chivas USA newcomer Maykel Galindo capitalized on a ghastly mistake by RSL keeper Nick Rimando in the opening minute, and then blew by Jack Stewart eight minutes later en route to his second goal as the Goats jumped out to an early cushion and never looked back in an unlikely 4-0 romp over RSL at the Home Depot Center.

When these teams met a month ago late in the preseason, Real prevailed 3-1, but it became apparent right away Saturday that Chivas was out to reverse that outcome.

Rimando's knack for coming off his line helped make it all possible.

Instead of letting his defenders track back and snuff out Chivas' average-at-best scoring chance in the first minute, Rimando charged off his line in hopes of beating Galindo to the ball at the left-edge of the penalty area. The Cuban native easily got there first, took one touch around the Real keeper and calmly buried it into the open net as three defenders hopelessly dove in to block it.

It was the fastest goal allowed in team history, with the previous quickest coming in 2005 when San Jose's Mark Chung scored inside two minutes.

It was Rimando's second significant mistake in just his third start with Real.

In the season opener against Dallas, Rimando and Stewart got their signals mixed on a centering pass by Clarence Goodson and the end result was a stoppage time goal by Carlos Ruiz that tied the game at 2-2.

In the ninth minute, it was Stewart, the other party involved in the stoppage time debacle against Dallas, that was beaten by Galindo.

With left back Willis Forko temporarily pushed into the attack, Stewart was caught in no-man's land when a quick Chivas counter attack matched him up against the speedy Galindo. When it became apparent that he couldn't keep up, Stewart made a diving stab at the ball about 30 yards from goal. He missed, freeing up Galindo for a free run into the back from the right side. He calmly tucked it inside the far post from about eight yards to essentially ice the victory.

It got worse, not better for Real Salt Lake.

Just before halftime, Chivas' Ante Razov made it 3-0 capitalizing on a beautiful build-up that resulted in Razov's 100th career goal.

With the game all but out of reach, RSL inserted Andy Williams into the match to perhaps spark a comeback. He probably wishes they'd left him on the bench.

In the 76th minute, Williams was brutally taken down from behind by Sacha Kljestan and was was carried off the field on a stretcher. Team officials believe he broke his right fibula, and Williams was on his way to the hospital to confirm that.

Chivas' Matt Taylor tacked on the final goal in the 89th minute as Real played with only two defenders.

Real will have a full week off before returning to action at home next Monday against the Colorado Rapids.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com