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Findley's two goals sparks Real Salt Lake

Jun 24, 2007 - 5:01 AM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Real Salt Lake may have finally found the good-luck charm it needed.

Robbie Findley, in his first game since being acquired from the Los Angeles Galaxy earlier this week, scored two goals in his Salt Lake City debut as RSL posted its first victory of the 2007 season, 2-1 over D.C. United on Saturday night.

It only took two-and-a-half months for Real Salt Lake to get the win. The 21-year-old Findley, who came over in a deal that sent veteran midfielder Chris Klein westward, repeatedly found himself in prime scoring position.

"I went out there and did what I could," Findley said. "We all went out and played hard from the beginning. I know these guys have been working hard. Last week when I was with L.A. and we played them, it was a tough game. They deserve it."

After coming up empty on a breakaway midway through the first half, he made up for it in the 41st minute.

With plenty of open field in front of him and a D.C. defender giving chase, Findley found just enough space to drive a hard grounder just inside the left goalpost for a 1-0 advantage marking the first time all season RSL has had a lead.

"Robbie showed tonight that his pace is going to be very exciting for us," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "He'll be the type of player that can get in behind defenses, and we've been lacking that a bit. In both of those goals, he really showed his pace."

In the opening minutes of the second half, Findley struck again, and in similar fashion. This time, he had even less in his way as he drilled his second goal of the evening past D.C. goalkeeper - and former RSL starter - Jay Nolly off an assist from another recent RSL acquisition, forward Alecko Eskandarian.

"I thought him and Alecko, on the second goal, was one of the best combinations I've seen in a long time," Kreis said. "For two players to have that kind of understanding in their first game together bodes very, very well for us."

United made things interesting late, as forward Luciano Emilio took advantage of a scramble in front of the Salt Lake net, poking in his sixth goal of the year to cut the deficit in half.

Just minutes later, Guy-Roland Kpene nearly scored an equalizer, but his shot sailed high. With the victory, RSL broke a seven-game home winless streak, improving to 1-5-6 on the season.

"It feels very, very good. ... Having the lead in the game was a new feeling was a new feeling for me," Kreis said. "The team is very happy. ... I think that they've worked extremely hard over the past six weeks."