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Eskandarian propels Chivas USA past Real Salt Lake

Sep 21, 2008 - 3:56 AM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Alecko Eskandarian scored in the 72nd minute to lift Chivas USA to a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the final MLS game played at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Eskandarian, who played with Real Salt Lake for 17 games last season, blasted a right-footed shot from the left penalty area after defender Nat Borchers and goaltender Nick Rimando collided with the ball in the backfield, leaving the net wide open.

Rimando finished with two saves for Real Salt Lake (8-10-7), which fell for the first time at home in 13 matches (7-1-5).

Ironically, Real Salt Lake's lone victory on the road was a 1-0 triumph over Chivas USA (9-10-6). The side is 1-9-2 on the road.

With Real Salt Lake's new stadium in Sandy, Utah set to open for the team's next home match on October 4 against the New England Revolution, 26,391 fans were on hand for the send off - a team record for a single MLS match.

Eskandarian's 25th career goal handed Real Salt Lake its first home loss since a 1-0 setback against the Houston Dynamo on October 15, 2007.

Chivas USA, which is 3-7-3 on the road, improved to 8-3-3 all-time against Real Salt Lake and 2-2-2 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The loss extended Real Salt Lake's losing streak to two games, while the win makes Chivas USA unbeaten in its last four matches.