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Real Salt Lake-Chivas USA Preview

May 8, 2009 - 9:58 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Real Salt Lake (3-3-1) at Chivas USA (6-1-1), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Chivas USA hasn't started with many healthy bodies for a second straight season, but a resurgent Zach Thornton has proved to be the difference for the league's top team.

The veteran goalkeeper will look for his fifth shutout in six matches Saturday night as he faces visiting Real Salt Lake, which hasn't scored in three road games in league play.

When Chivas acquired Thornton from New York on Aug. 1, he had appeared in one game since leaving the Chicago Fire in 2006. After finishing 2-3-3 in eight matches in 2008 for Chivas, Thornton has experienced a renaissance in his 14th MLS season by yielding three goals in eight starts - one in his last five - and posting a league-leading five shutouts.

"I knew in my heart I was capable of playing well again," said the 35-year-old Thornton, who is second on the league's all-time list in wins and third in shutouts. "Things are clicking really well right now."

His latest effort was a second straight clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over San Jose last Saturday. Justin Braun gave Chivas all the scoring it needed with his first goal of the season.

Thornton's play has helped Chivas (6-1-1) overcome the league's longest injury list - 10 players heading into Saturday. Using 30 different lineups in 32 games last season including playoffs, the team started 1-4-2 but rebounded to finish second in the Western Conference.

Coach Preki Radosavljevic's squad, though, did see veteran midfielder Sasha Victorine return in the win over the Earthquakes - his first action since a season-ending knee injury Oct. 19.

"We're trying to weather the storm with all these injuries," Radosavljevic told MLS' official Web site. "Whoever steps on the field, they know their roles, and they understand how to play with each other."

Real Salt Lake (3-3-1) was on the verge of winning for the first time in three matches Wednesday night against visiting Los Angeles, but the Galaxy's furious stoppage-time rally led to a 2-2 tie.

Salt Lake couldn't hold on to a pair of one-goal leads with Chris Seitz making his first start in net after Nick Rimando's finger injury last Saturday in Colorado. Robbie Findley scored his MLS-leading fifth goal, and Will Johnson added a penalty kick after 90 minutes - one of a combined three goals scored in stoppage time.

"This one's bitter," coach Jason Kreis told the team's official Web site. "When you lead the game twice and walk away with a draw, you're going to be disappointed."

Salt Lake should get a boost with the return of second-leading goal scorer Jamison Olave and midfielder Javier Morales, who both served one-game suspensions Wednesday night, and the two will try to help their team break its scoreless slide away from home.

Salt Lake, which has lost its three road games by a combined 6-0 score, won 1-0 in Los Angeles last season to break an eight-game winless streak to Chivas. Salt Lake also used a 2-2 draw at The Home Depot Center to advance to last season's West finals.

Seitz will likely start again in place of Rimando, but RSL defender David Horst is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery Friday to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.