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Real Salt Lake cruises past Toronto FC 3-0

Jun 28, 2009 - 5:23 AM By JOE BEATTY STATS MLS Correspondent

SANDY, Utah (STATS) - After a surprising run on the road, Real Salt Lake returned to Utah to claim its first home victory in over two months - a 3-0 rout of Toronto FC on Saturday night.

Clint Mathis had a goal and an assist and Yura Movsisyan and Kyle Beckerman also scored for Real Salt Lake (5-6-4), which improved to 2-0-2 in June after going 0-4-2 in May. Four of those June points came away from home, as RSL returned from a trip that saw them defeat Los Angeles and tie Houston. The team had been 0-4-1 on the road prior to the two-match swing.

"I just think we're getting back into form," said Beckerman, who notched his second goal of the season. "Confidence is coming back. Movsisyan's heating up. We're getting goals in timely parts of the game. If you can do that you can go far."

Movsisyan has scored a goal or assisted on one in four straight matches. He opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he knocked down an errant Toronto pass, blew past defender Nick Garcia and sprinted 40 yards before slotting it past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

It was a welcome strike for RSL coach Jason Kreis, who had been under heat from fans after the team, Movsisyan in particular, had been struggling to score during the May downturn.

"I've been telling the guys the last three or four weeks that most of the goal and scoring chances happen in transition," Kreis said. "It happens because there is a misplay in the middle third of the field and it comes down to who reacts quicker."

Beckerman extended the lead right before halftime, taking a pass from Ned Grabavoy on an initial feed into the box from Mathis and banging it past a leaping Frei. Mathis finished the scoring in the 78th minute on another assist from Grabavoy.

Toronto (6-6-4), missing starting defender Marvell Wynne who is with the US national team at the Confederations Cup, had a tough time at either end of the field. RSL outshot the visitors 14-7 overall and 8-2 on shots on goal. After two early shots from defender Jim Brennan caused RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando to leave his feet, the scoring chances for Toronto were near nil.

RSL, which had gone without a home win since a 6-0 rout of New England on April 25, entered the day fifth in the Western Conference after dropping down during the May swoon. Now three points behind third-place Seattle, RSL is looking to get back into playoff contention.

"If we continue to make sure we get these points at home and if we continue to play like this and be tough to break down and give up not so many chances I think we're going to be in the driver's seat," said Mathis, whose assist was his team-leading sixth of the season.

Toronto had a two-game win streak snapped and missed a chance to pass Eastern Conference leader D.C. United.

Aside from generating little offense, Toronto had a difficult time keeping its composure, accruing four yellow cards. None of the players booked, however, were on caution so there will be no automatic suspensions for Toronto's next match.