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Chivas USA shocks Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto

Mar 25, 2012 - 3:27 AM Sandy, UT (Sports Network) - Rookie Casey Townsend scored in the 72nd minute and Chivas USA shocked Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Saturday in Major League Soccer for its first-ever win at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Chivas USA had lost its first two games of the season without scoring, but the team's first goal of the year was enough to surprise Real at home. RSL won its first two games over the Los Angeles Galaxy and Red Bull New York.

Chivas (1-2-0) entered the fixture after home losses to the Houston Dynamo and Vancouver Whitecaps FC and was given little chance on the road against two-win Real Salt Lake (2-1-0).

Other than an early free kick that RSL put in the net only to have called off, both teams struggled to create good chances. Real goalie Nick Rimando made one save on the line inside 20 minutes, but the match went to half scoreless.

Chivas USA finally found the breakthrough midway through the second half after Townsend challenged Rimando on a cross into the middle of the box. Rimando was not able to hold onto the ball, and Townsend took advantage.

Townsend quickly drove the ball into the net with Rimando off his line for his first MLS goal, and Chivas survived a few scares to hold on for the win.

Alvaro Saborio headed wide from 6 yards with 15 minutes remaining, then Fabian Espindola had a close-range shot tipped around the right post by Chivas goalie Dan Kennedy 2 minutes into 5 minutes of stoppage time.

Chivas was the last Western Conference team to win this season and will try to build on the result when Sporting Kansas City visits The Home Depot Center on April 1. Real will try to rebound at the Portland Timbers on March 31.