RSL's Brown scores 2 goals in 1st start of season

CARSON, Calif. — Chris Brown hadn't been penciled into a Major League Soccer starting line-up in 14 months, so you can imagine his excitement after getting the starting nod for Sunday's match against the Galaxy.

He didn't disappoint, scoring both RSL goals in a 3-2 loss in which Real enjoyed its best attacking game of the season.

"He's a sleeper," said RSL midfielder Andy Williams, who also made his first start of 2007. "In practice he's a great finisher, he gets a sniff of the goal he's going to take a chance."

Brown's last start came on April 15, 2006, as a defender, no less. Sunday's start was at striker, alongside Alecko Eskandarian.

It was his seventh appearance of the season, with the previous six coming as a substitute. His greatest contribution prior to Sunday came in Week 5 as he helped RSL earn a 3-3 draw with New York by tallying a stoppage-time equalizer.

He scored in the eighth minute and then the 73rd minute against L.A., but admitted he probably should've scored several more.

Unfortunately for Brown and RSL, there likely won't to be back-to-back starts in his future. In the 88th minute, Brown injured his hamstring while pursuing a ball in the box.

"Andy played great ball, and I took a touch inside to try and get around the defender and as I pushed off I could feel my hamstring pop," said Brown.

Despite his penchant for being a quick healer, Brown said he'll probably end up missing this Saturday's match with D.C. United but hopes to be ready for the July 4th game against visiting Toronto.

SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE: When Brown headed home his second goal of the game on a corner kick Sunday, it put a halt to a very long drought for Real Salt Lake. It marked the first time RSL scored a legitimate goal on a corner kick since Eddie Pope did so against the Galaxy on May 14, 2005.

Spanning three seasons, RSL took over 250 corner kicks in between the two goals.

UNWELCOME SURPRISE: Freddy Adu got an early send off to the FIFA World Youth Championships on Sunday, but it wasn't exactly the type of going-away present he was hoping for. For the first time this year the 18-year-old wasn't included in RSL's starting 11, but Kreis said it was all part of his master plan.