RSL breaks through Chivas defense over and over in 4-1 win

Ned Grabavoy scored two goals on breakaway opportunities for his first two of the season as Real Salt Lake broke past the Chivas USA defense over and over and over in a 4-1 road win.

Grabavoy scored his first goal of the season after breaking through the defense only three minutes into the match - his first regular season goal for the club since 2010. The three-man Chivas back line certainly takes much of the blame for the opportunity, but Grabavoy put nary a foot wrong against Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Javier Morales's pass may not have been entirely intentional, but Grabavoy's run was perfectly positioned for a pass in that direction.

Kyle Beckerman nearly doubled the lead at the eight-minute mark with a shot Kennedy could only parry wide.

The strangest point in the match may have taken place in the 30th minute, when Kennedy stepped up for a free kick just outside RSL's 18-yard box. His free kick hardly even smashed into the wall - it was more of a trickle - but the clearance landed at the feet of a Chivas defender and Kennedy was given a chance to run the 90 yards back into defense.

Chivas picked up the first two yellow cards of the match around the 33rd minute mark for bad tackles in consecutive plays.

Former Philadelphia Union player Gabriel Farfan entered the match at the half for his new club after signing for Chivas USA last week.

Joao Plata scored only four minutes into the second half after Kyle Beckerman intercepted a Chivas pass with his head. His pass dropped perfectly for Plata, whose speed carried him past a static, narrow central defense, and his finish from an angle

Chivas USA scored in the 55th minute after Nick Rimando missed out on a cross; Jorge Villafana sent a looping header into the back of the net, shocking a defense caught rather asleep.

Only moments later, Chivas nearly scored again, but Rimando made up for his earlier hesitation when he

Robbie Findley entered with 30 minutes remaining to make his first appearance since falling prey to injury earlier in the season. His first chances emerged immediately after; both after he burst past the defense. The second saw him one-on-one with Dan Kennedy, but Findley tried to round his opponent and the chance trickled frustratingly away

Grabavoy nearly had his second of the match after Plata made his way toward the touchline and cut the ball back to him, but a heavy touch saw RSL win a corner instead.

Yordany Alvarez checked in for goalscorer Plata in the 72 minute as RSL coach Jason Kreis looked to seal a 2-1 win on the road.

Luis Gil had a prime chance emerge after making a good run through the middle, but profligacy — the theme of the night — saw him stall in front of Kennedy before Robbie Findley fired the ball well above the goal.

Robbie Findley put RSL 3-1 up in the 78th minute, scoring his second goal since his returning to Real Salt Lake capitalizing on a missed clearance following a low Yordany Alvarez cross. His finish

Yordany Alvarez picked up the first RSL yellow in the 83rd minute after moving in for a tackle and missing out on the ball - and perhaps the player.

Khari Stephenson was RSL's final substitution, coming on for Luis Gil in the final minutes of the match.

Ned Grabavoy ended the match nearly exactly as he finished, scoring in the 90th minute on a breakaway - when the more nominally attacking players were profligate in their finishing, Grabavoy placed both his shots perfectly for a brace.

Carlos Salcedo started alongside a returning Nat Borchers in the center of defense, with Chris Schuler dropping to the bench on the night. It's hard to argue with the decision: Salcedo and Borchers were an effective pairing.