RSL unable to contain Dynamo

HOUSTON — Houston's Nate Jaqua looked like a world class striker for 90 minutes Saturday night. Considering that Jaqua's an average forward who was suiting up for his third MLS team in 12 months sums up just how sloppy and atrocious Real Salt Lake's defense really was.

Jaqua scored twice with his feet and once with his head — all three goals courtesy of Corey Ashe assists — as Houston built a three-goal lead and hung on for a 4-3 victory at Robertson Stadium, despite RSL's spirited late-game comeback.

"We've proven to our fans and ourselves that we can go out and play and win games, and then we come out and play like that, it's very disappointing," said RSL keeper Nick Rimando. "There's a lot of breakdowns that made us look bad."

It was a horrific beginning to Real's make-or-break three-game road trip.

The loss puts intense pressure on RSL during the final two games of its road swing. When the club headed out on the nine-day, three-game trip, the players talked about needing a minimum of six points to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. After coming up empty in Texas, it's imperative Real gets the full three points at D.C. United Wednesday and then Toronto Saturday, otherwise it's time to start thinking about the 2008 season with six games remaining.

Salt Lake was bad from the opening whistle. Its passing was below average, its first-touch at times looked juvenile but, above all, its marking in the box — particularly on Jaqua — was ghastly.

RSL coach Jason Kreis thought overexcitement may have been a contributor.

"I think the guys came out with a good spirit. I think they were into the game, maybe a little bit too much though because there were too many technical breakdowns in the first half. We just gave the ball away too easily," said Kreis.

Jaqua opened the scoring in the sixth minute rather effortlessly has he slipped in behind RSL's backline to knock in a cross by Ashe.

Despite its initial early shortcomings, RSL equalized against the run of play in the 18th minute on a fantastic and opportunistic finish by Fabian Espindola.

Initially, Espindola lost the ball at the top of the box on a pass from Alecko Eskandarian. He managed to regain possession a split second later, but in the process he seemed to shove Houston defender Richard Mulrooney.