It's only exhibition, but win feels good to RSL

It doesn't count in the Major League Soccer standings, but Real Salt Lake will take it.

Hosting the Chinese National Team Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium in front of 11,119 fans, RSL posted a 1-0 victory to continue its progress toward getting back to the playing level necessary to compete for a playoff spot in MLS.

"Generally, I felt very good about that game," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "We went about the game with a specific game plan. I think the boys executed again for us tonight. Obviously, you have to be very pleased anytime you are going to play against a national team, any national team that has players of that quality and you come away with a result. You have to feel good about what you've done."

Real used the game as an opportunity to work on a couple of things. It gave the club a chance to do some evaluating of personnel, and to work on tactical changes.

"First and foremost, it was an opportunity for quite a few of the players out there to show me what they were about," said Kreis. "To have them come into a starting role, and show that they could do it over a longer stretch of time.

"But the game plan in specifics was we wanted to high-pressure them for the first 15 minutes, and we were going to be looking to get the ball over the back of them, which meant we were playing quite a few more longer balls," added Kreis.

The results early were not that positive. Kreis acknowledged at times the team was giving away possession too easily by sending the ball long. The Chinese used it to their advantage as they created the more dangerous scoring chances and out-shot Real 10-2 in the opening half.

The most dangerous attack was in the 30th minute when forward Wang Dong took a through-ball on the right side of the penalty area and came in on keeper Chris Seitz. The rookie keeper was up to the task, however, as he burst off his line to cut off the angle and deflected the shot away from 12 yards. It was one of seven saves on the night for Seitz, who had a standout performance.

"He was outstanding," said Kreis. "Another goalkeeper that came up extremely big for us. He made a couple of unbelievable saves, but what I really noticed was how good his judgment was at all the long balls that were coming at him. He was always Johnny-on-the-spot."