SANDY, Utah -- In Saturday's first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series between Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, the hosts threw everything they had at the visiting Red-and-White.
A total of 20 shots and seven on goal had led to no goals for Real Salt Lake -- and Chivas USA nearly escaped with a draw.
But the result never came as Yura Movsisyan scored in the 90th minute to give RSL a 1-0 victory against Chivas USA, who once again have a deficit to overturn at The Home Depot Cetner.
"For a moment it was going to be one of those games where we escaped ... and put ourselves in a good spot going home. But one play on a throw-in and we fall asleep for a second and it's 1-0," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "We're in the same spot last year going home and hopefully it will be different for us."
A year ago, Chivas USA won the Western Conference regular season title, but after losing 1-0 to Kansas City in the first leg of their first-round series, weren't able to make that up at home.
Movsisyan caught the defenders napping on the decisive play. Javier Morales took a throw-in and carried into the penalty area where he sent a ball to the far post.
"It passed some of our guys and found its way to Shavar (Thomas) and Movsisyan," defender Jonathan Bornstein said. "From my angle it looked like it was going to go past both of them so I started to step back to clear it and at that last second Movsisyan got a backheel to it and just kind of spun it in back post. Definitely caught me off guard."
The goal spoiled an otherwise solid effort for the Red-and-White. Although RSL dominated the match and had done so prior to the goal, the visitors had done well to weather the 89-minute storm. Zach Thornton, who filled in for the suspended Dan Kennedy, made seven saves including a pair off Clint Mathis shots that kept Chivas USA in the game.
But the final sequence was one too many opportunities Real Salt Lake had in the game.
"They came after us hard. They pressured us hard," Jesse Marsch said. "Elevation becomes a factor when you are chasing the game."
RSL had the better of opportunities in the match and Chivas USA did little to take the momentum away from the hosts. Sacha Kljestan had a brief look from 18 yards out early in the first half but sent a shot wide of goal. It was not until the second half that the hosts relented on their attack.
"From the very first minute they were on us, pressuring us and making it hard on us and we could never get it going," Marsch said. "There were stretches in the middle of the second half where I felt that was our chance and we weren't good enough at times. It could have gone either way. They were on their heels a little bit for a period too."
Aside from Kennedy, Chivas USA were missing three other starters from a week ago. Claudio Suarez (knee), Atiba Harris (quadriceps) and Alecko Eskandarian (knee) were unavailable for the match and stayed in southern California.
But players said their missing teammates did not account for the club's lack of sharpness.
"You had new guys playing in different spots, Jonny (Bornstein) playing in center back, (Alex) Zotinca playing on the left midfield. It's kind of a juggled lineup," Kljestan said. "You've got to adjust. We've been doing that all year. We've done a good job of juggling the lineup. That's just the way it is. You've just got to react and do our thing."
Still, despite having come so close to achieving their objective in Saturday's first leg, players said they felt confident entering the Nov. 8 return leg.
"We were two minutes away from accomplishing what you set out to do when you go on the road," Marsch said. "It's unfortunate and we're disappointed and upset but it's halftime right now and we're going home. You'd have to score a goal anyway so we're going to take it to them at home like they took it to us here."
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