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Real Salt Lake-Galaxy Preview

Jun 12, 2009 - 6:02 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Real Salt Lake (3-6-3) at Los Angeles (2-1-9), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Last month, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake played to a wild draw that featured three goals in stoppage time.

Since then, the Galaxy have kept their unbeaten run alive, while Real Salt Lake's winless skid has grown.

Given Salt Lake's inability to score on the road this season, both streaks could continue Saturday night as the teams meet at the Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy trailed by one after 90 minutes at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 6, but twice erased deficits in stoppage time for a 2-2 tie. Landon Donovan got the first equalizer one minute into extra time, and after Will Johnson put Salt Lake back on top in the next minute, Mike Magee answered for Los Angeles in the 94th minute.

That draw pushed the Galaxy's unbeaten streak to five, and the run has reached 10 going into Saturday's match.

The Galaxy (2-1-9) are coming off their first victory since May 2, winning 2-1 over Toronto FC last Saturday. Despite the absence of leading scorer Donovan due to United States national team commitments, Los Angeles scored multiple goals for only the fourth time this season.

Edson Buddle provided the winner in the 77th minute - his second goal in as many games - while Alan Gordon added a goal and his first assist of the season.

"We scored without (Landon) Donovan and even without David Beckham, isn't that amazing," coach Bruce Arena said. "It is a hard field to play on and to get out of here with three points is pretty impressive."

The Galaxy won't have Donovan in the lineup for a second straight week as the forward, who has six of the team's 15 goals, will again be with the U.S. team in South Africa for Monday's Confederations Cup match against Italy. Beckham, on loan to AC Milan, is not expected to return until next month.

That could be the break Salt Lake needs to snap its seven-game overall winless skid, earn its first road victory since Sept. 27 and beat the Galaxy for the first time since Sept. 1, 2007.

RSL has scored one goal in going 0-5-1 away from home this season. The club followed up a 2-1 loss at San Jose on May 30 with last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Colorado.

Yura Movsisyan scored in the 79th minute for Salt Lake, but his team again failed to hold a lead by allowing the Rapids to score nine minutes later.

"They did well defensively to keep it tight in there but we were able to break them down and get one," midfielder Clint Mathis said. "To give up that goal at the end was disappointing, but that's the game of soccer."

Real Salt Lake might have to play Saturday without leading scorer Robbie Findley (six goals), who's doubtful after spraining his right ankle against Colorado. Defensive midfielder Robbie Russell is suspended after receiving two yellow cards last week.

Salt Lake hasn't won since its record-setting 6-0 home victory over New England on April 25. Los Angeles hasn't lost since April 4, a 3-2 home defeat to Colorado.

The past four meetings between Salt Lake and Los Angeles have ended in 2-2 draws.