Half Time: Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA
Real Salt Lake, looking for their first-ever win against Chivas USA in Carson (and their first on the road this season), found something to build on in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead through Robbie Findley, for his third goal of the season.
RSL, which showed more attacking initiative than Chivas USA, deserved the lead. Indeed, Chivas USA were held to zero shots on target.
Chivas USA were fortunate not to be down by more, Dan Kennedy denying a Kenny Deuchar header from seven yards by tipping it over the bar with his fingertips.
The goal came in the 33rd minute, a long cross from Javier Morales finding Findley, who used Carey Talley as a diversion and lured the inexperienced Kennedy from his goal line to score.
Findley almost had a second in first half stoppage time, but this time Kennedy correctly and smartly came out of his box to stop the breaking striker who had got behind the entire Chivas USA defense.
The best Chivas USA chance came from a corner kick, Jonathan Bornstein crossing to a wide open Talley, who managed to scoop his shot harmlessly over the bar in the 38th minute.
The Galaxy, by the way, are leading San Jose 1-0 in Oakland early in the second half, with Edson Buddle scoring his sixth goal in nine games.
David Beckham and Josh Tudela were credited with assists.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook.
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