Opportunistic Goats drop RSL

A four-game unbeaten streak against the likes of Toronto, Los Angeles, Colorado and New York is one thing. Real Salt Lake found out Saturday night that trying to extend that unbeaten streak to five against one of the best teams in Major League Soccer is a much more daunting task.

RSL's brief four-game unbeaten streak came to a spirited end at Rice-Eccles Stadium as Chivas USA reiterated why it's the best team in the Western Conference with a 3-2 victory.

Despite being outshot 13-8 and primarily outplayed for 90 minutes, Chivas took advantage of its limited opportunities. The difference was a six-minute span in the second half in which RSL rookie keeper Chris Seitz — making just his third start of the season — was beaten twice as Chivas built a 3-1 lead and then dodged several quality scoring chances by Real late in the game.

"I think we had the better chances, quality chances," said RSL midfielder Andy Williams. "We played well enough to deserve at least a point."

With that said, RSL coach Jason Kreis reiterated that it's what teams do with the chances that matters.

"Sitting here right now I think I remember them having three chances and they scored all three of them," said Kreis.

As for RSL, it connected on two of its 13 shots but wasted several others, including Yura Movsisyan's close-range shot in which he banged a shot off the crossbar in the 89th minute.

The loss dropped RSL to 5-14-9 with two games remaining, while Chivas improved to 15-6-6 with the victory and vaulted past Houston for the best record in the West.

RSL plays host to Houston a week from Monday in the club's last home game of the season. The match marks the last home appearance for Eddie Pope, who's announced he's retiring at the end of the season.

Pope was on the bench for Saturday's match against Chivas, but his teammates could've used him.

Chivas got on the scoreboard first in the 22nd minute as John Cunliffe used his body to redirect a cross by Laurent Merlin into the net, giving the Goats the 1-0 lead.

It was an impressive link-up when you consider that neither player would normally be on the field. Maykel Galindo (12) and Ante Razov (11) are Chivas' two leading scorers, but neither was available Saturday night.

RSL narrowly missed equalizing on two separate occasions a few minutes later as Chivas keeper Brad Guzan did well to save a powerful shot by Fabian Espindola in the 26th minute and then a deflected shot by Kyle Beckerman in the 29th minute.

"We had some chances, but we weren't sharp," said Beckerman. "It could've been conditions, it's tough playing on that turf with the rain and wind."