"I've stressed time and time again that when we've been on top of teams and if we don't take our goals, we make it difficult for ourselves," said Kreis. "So really from minute 25 to 45, we're all over them, all we need is a goal."

Midfielder Dema Kovalenko got involved with the near misses early in the second half. He put a 22-yard shot into the hands of a diving Hartman in the 50th minute, and six minutes later he sent a ball from a similar position inches past the right post.

RSL continued to be the aggressor throughout the second half, but things came to a screeching halt offensively after Beckerman put a shot inches wide in the 78th minute. It represented the last shot of the game for RSL, while three of Kansas City's shots came in the final 10 minutes.

Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin nearly pulled off a stoppage-time winner, but his long-range blast in the waning minutes was tipped inches wide by keeper Nick Rimando.

Salt Lake hits the road next week at Chivas USA in hopes of securing its first road win of the season. Kansas City ended a six-game road trip. As for Kansas City, it's no doubt thrilled to be wrap up a brutal six-game road trip.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com