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Real Salt Lake-Chivas USA Preview

May 21, 2010 - 7:19 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Real Salt Lake (4-3-1) at Chivas USA (3-5-1), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Real Salt Lake was glad to see Robbie Findley finally find the back of the net in its last game, but the defending MLS Cup champs are probably more excited about the recent play of newcomer Alvaro Saborio.

RSL looks to snap a three-game road losing streak Saturday night when it faces a struggling Chivas USA team that will be without co-captains Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein.

After recording a career-high 12 goals in 2009, Findley was without one through the first seven games before scoring off a header in the third minute of Real Salt Lake's 3-1 win over Houston on May 13.

"I was getting opportunities before and I was able to put one of them away tonight," he said.

Findley, though, has been training with the national team this week after being named to the U.S. provisional roster for next month's World Cup. His absence means Saborio should have even more opportunities in front of the net.

An established scorer acquired on loan from Swiss club FC Sion in March, the Costa Rican native had two goals against the Dynamo, and was named MLS player of the week on Monday. Saborio has started the last five games, and has three goals and an assist during RSL's three-match winning streak.

"We've seen now in the past several weeks that he's had a lot of excellent opportunities and he should probably have a couple more goals," coach Jason Kreis told Real Salt Lake's official web site. "We will look for continued form from him."

Saborio will try to help RSL (4-3-1) win its first match on the road since a 3-0 season-opening victory over San Jose on March 27. Facing Chivas USA (3-5-1) could help.

Chivas, which has a Western Conference-worst 10 points, has been shut out in back-to-back games since a 4-0 win at New England on May 5. Looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss at Columbus on May 15, Chivas USA will be without Kljestan and Bornstein, who are also training with the national team.

The club could use increased production from Justin Braun, who is second on the team with two goals, but the forward could be sidelined after leaving in the final minutes against the Crew with an apparent knee injury. An MRI taken Monday showed no ligament damage.

Chivas' struggling offense could also receive a boost if Maykel Galindo (sprained ankle), Yamith Cuesta (wisdom teeth removed) and Osael Romero (sprained ankle) can contribute.

"We need their help," coach Martin Vasquez told Chivas' official website. "But it's up to them. That transition to full fitness can be short or long - it's up to them and how hard they push themselves."

Vasquez has several options to replace Kljestan, and Gerson Mayen, Jorge Flores or Carlos Borja could fill in for Bornstein.

"It's a big gap to fill with Bornstein gone, but I've been training well and working hard," said Borja. "Hopefully I can do what's needed to fill in for him if I'm called on."

RSL defeated visiting Chivas 4-0 on Aug. 26 after losing 1-0 on May 9 in southern California.