Real Salt Lake finds silver lining in road loss

CARSON, Calif. — A loss is a loss, but for Real Salt Lake it walked away from Saturday's 1-0 setback at league-leading Chivas USA feeling quite positive about itself.

Utilizing a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, the team was pleased with what it accomplished on two fronts. Defensively it limited the number of opportunities for Chivas, but surprisingly RSL was able to create a decent amount of scoring chances despite playing with one striker.

That's an encouraging sign for RSL going forward. Still winless and goalless on the road this year, and with four of the club's next six games away from the comforts of Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL needs to start securing some road points.

RSL coach Jason Kreis believes using a 4-5-1 formation in future road games might be the answer.

"I thought we limited the number of chances Chivas had. In previous road games I thought we gave up a whole lot more chances than we did tonight," said Kreis. "And for the first time we've ever played in that shape I thought we attacked pretty well out of it as well, and created some things, so that's a positive thing for us that we can draw from that game."

In the final 15 minutes of last Wednesday's 2-2 tie with Los Angeles, RSL dropped back into a 4-5-1 formation to preserve a 1-0 lead, but it was a disaster. The players seemed unsure of themselves and usually resorted to pumping the ball up field to alleviate the pressure. The lack of possession proved costly as the Galaxy finally capitalized on their chances.

Against Chivas, the players seemed to discover the happy medium between being defensive and picking their spots to attack.

"I think we needed a change based on the results we had in the past three road games. I think it was a smart thing, and I think it worked. It's just a matter of doing those small things in the attacking third to create more chances and finishes those chances off," said midfielder Clint Mathis.

It took spectacular defending and goalkeeping to deny RSL on its two best chances. Will Johnson had a shot blocked from close range in the first half, and Javier Morales was denied in the second half on a diving save by Zach Thornton.

Despite those few promising attacking moments, RSL is still searching for its first points on the road and its first goal. Kreis insists he's not worried about the mentality of the team.

"We're creating the chances, and now I feel like we know how we need to play on the road. I still think this is a group that really believes in itself; the coaching staff sure believes in them," he said. "I just feel like if one thing goes right for us, (and) one goal comes on the road, as we've said at home we've been in games where one goal was going to come and then there's going to be a bunch and it's happened for us. Same thing on the road, one goal's going to come and then a bunch is going to be behind it."

His team's next opportunity to open the floodgates is Saturday, May 23 at D.C. United.

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com