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Galaxy-Real Salt Lake Preview

May 5, 2009 - 8:55 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Los Angeles (1-1-4) at Real Salt Lake (3-3-0), 9:00 p.m. EDT

After another shutout loss on the road, Real Salt Lake looks to stay undefeated at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night when it hosts a Los Angeles Galaxy club looking to build on its first victory of the season.

Salt Lake (3-3-0) has dropped all three matches on the road this season, including Saturday's 2-0 loss to Colorado.

"We seem to be the only team everyone wants to talk about having troubles on the road, but just about every team in the league does," coach Jason Kreis told MLS' official Web site.

Real, which hasn't scored in three road games, now returns to Rio Tinto Stadium, where it's outscored opponents 12-2 in going 3-0-0. In its last home game, Salt Lake posted its most lopsided win in franchise history, 6-0 over New England on April 25.

Salt Lake, though, will be without second-leading goal scorer Jamison Olave, who is suspended for one game after getting ejected in the 41st minute Saturday for serious foul play. Olave has two goals this season.

Midfielder Javier Morales, tied with Clint Mathis with a team-high two assists, will also miss this match after the league suspended him for one game for elbowing Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni.

Goalkeeper Chris Seitz, who is on loan from the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division, is expected to get his first MLS start in two seasons after Nick Rimando suffered a laceration to his left middle finger Saturday. Rimando said he could be sidelined for a few weeks.

Los Angeles (1-1-4) is trying to win on the road for the first time after earning its first victory of the season Saturday, 1-0 over New York. Landon Donovan scored in the 39th minute off a penalty kick, and the 27-year-old forward has scored or assisted on all seven of Los Angeles' goals this season.

"What we did tonight is we had a complete performance," Donovan said. "That's what we haven't done. We've had long stretches where we've been good, and we've also made mistakes and given up goals. Tonight we didn't do that. You play like we did tonight, you're going to win games."

More solid efforts from goalie Donovan Ricketts should help Los Angeles work its way up the Western Conference standings. The first-year player has recorded two shutouts in four games this season.

"Donovan's been a great addition," said Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena, 1-0-3 lifetime against Real Salt Lake. "We have a real solid presence in goal and we're getting better defensively."

The Galaxy, who are 0-0-2 on the road, have allowed just two goals in their last four matches.

Salt Lake and Los Angeles have tied in their last three matchups, most recently 2-2 on Sept. 6 at the Home Depot Center.