CARSON, Calif. — No one knows better than Jason Kreis, who has scored 108 career goals, that there's no magic solution to getting his team out of its goal-scoring rut.

It's a combination of so many elements, including desire. That's an area Kreis paid particular attention to during his postgame press conference following Sunday's loss to Chivas.

"I scored a lot of goals just by shear will and just throwing my body into places most players wouldn't, and I think we're lacking some of that right now, we're lacking someone ... who will put fear on the line who will just go for it," said Kreis.

Argentine newcomer Fabian Espindola didn't do it his first start, and neither did Robbie Findley. In the second half Kreis got more of that all-out effort from his midfielders but not enough.

One of the only players to demonstrate that passion to find a way in the box was Atiba Harris after he pushed up late in the game to try to help Real steal an equalizer.

After Harris nearly scored in the 85th minute, a sequence occurred a minute later that added to Kreis' frustration. After Harris fought and scrapped with a handful of Chivas defenders for possession, the enigmatic Harris somehow managed to get a decent shot off that produced a rebound. Not one of his teammates was within eight yards to pounce on the loose ball. They were all standing around watching Harris do all the work.

"We need players to step forward now, we someone to step forward and say I'm go into make the play," said Kreis. "We have the guys capable of doing it, it's just a question of when they're going to step up and decide to do it."

SHORTHANDED: Real Salt Lake wasn't the only team missing key starters in Sunday's match at the Home Depot Center. While RSL was without suspended Alecko Eskandarian and injured Nate Sturgis, Chivas was playing without two starters, and a third didn't enter the match until the 80th minute.

Cuban scoring sensation Maykel Galindo, the fifth leading scorer in MLS with 10 goals, sat out until the 80th minute with a groin strain. At the other end of the pitch, defensive starters Alex Zotinca and Lawson Vaughn were both suspended. Vaughn was out for an accumulation of five yellow cards, whereas Zotinca was absent after being red-carded last Thursday for head-butting L.A.'s Kevin Harmse in the melee involving David Beckham.

The absences forced Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein into an unusual spot. The natural left back, who's been capped 10 times with the U.S. National Team this year, made his first professional start at right back on Sunday.

UNFRIENDLY CONFINES: Playing in Southern California has never been kind to Real, and Sunday's game was no different.

Following its 1-0 loss to Chivas USA, RSL's all-time record at the Home Depot Center is 1-9-1 with a 24-8 goal differential. Success has been even harder to come by against Chivas, as evidenced by RSL's 0-5-1 record and 15-2 goal differential against the Goats.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com