Argentines fuel RSL victory

Following Wednesday's fantastic performance by Real Salt Lake's trio of Argentines — players dubbed RSL saviors — one can't help but wonder: Why didn't the club go out and discover the foreigners sooner?

Perhaps then RSL's 3-1 victory over Kansas City might not seem like such an anomaly in a season littered with disappointing loss after disappointing loss, and the undesirable chase toward MLS futility.

Even though Wednesday's triumph can't fix five months of frustration, if nothing else the Argentines proved they'll be difference makers down the stretch, which might actually make the season fun again for players, coaches and fans alike. Plus, if all three stick around, 2008 is already looking promising.

"All three of them had very, very good games. All three contributed in more ways than the goals," said Real coach Jason Kreis. "All three of them showed they have some special ability, and it's exciting to see where it can go from here."

It took Argentine Matias Mantilla a meager 40 seconds to score on a corner kick from countryman Javier Morales. Just before halftime, the other member of the Argentine posse, Fabian Espindola, made it 2-0 with a fantastic finish.

In what should've been smooth sailing after that was anything but. As good as all 11 Salt Lake players were in building the 2-0 halftime lead, the team's performance was equally disappointing in the second half as the Wizards dominated possession and looked poised to equalize before Andy Williams bailed the team out with an amazing 50-yard shot.

RSL intentionally sat back a bit defensively in the first half to frustrate Kansas City striker Eddie Johnson, but it escalated ridiculously at times in the second half.

"For us in the second half, even being up 2-0 we stopped playing. We stopped doing the things that got us two goals," said defender Eddie Pope, who was subbed off in the 55th minute to rest for this Saturday's game at Los Angeles. "We went back to poor possession. We sat back and defended."

The Wizards capitalized on their impressive second half in the 69th minute as Johnson unleashed a fantastic finish from the top of the box, making it 2-1 on his 13th goal of the season.

"I think Kansas City was obviously throwing caution to the wind a little bit, and they were putting us under, and that's going to happen when you're winning games," said Kreis.