BY ADAM SERRANO

Tonight, Chivas USA welcomes the defending champions Real Salt Lake on a brisk night in Carson, California.

The Rojiblancos  (3-5-1) will play their first game without co-captains Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein who are away trying to make Bob Bradley's World Cup roster in Princeton, New Jersey. Without their stars, it will be up to players like Jesus Padilla, Carlos Borja and Blair Gavin to step in their place. Real Salt Lake (4-3-1) comes to Southern California on a three game winning streak and are currently one of the hottest club's in MLS. The champions will be without Robbie Findley who is also away on International duty, but Jason Kreis team has a number of veterans to call upon to fill his void.

This is Adam Serrano providing you commentary from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

FINAL: A dull game, but a fantastic finish tonight at the Home Depot Center. Chivas USA played with a road mentality despite being at home and were unable to earn a result despite Justin Braun's moment of brilliance. Salt Lake takes all three points tonight and will go on with a four game winning streak. 

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94th Minute – Rimando makes the save off a Gavin shot and that looks like it will be it.

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93rd Minute – Chivas earn the corner.

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92nd Minute – RSL SUB: Saborio is replaced for Nelson Gonzalez.

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90th Minute – Espindola found himself in a world of space and was able to beat Thornton. RSL with a deserved lead. Four minutes of stoppage to be added.

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89th Minute – RSL GOAL!!! LATE MAGIC AGAIN FOR THE CHAMPIONS FABIO ESPINDOLA WITH THE GOAL!

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88th Minute – The game has finally come alive in the closing minutes, but can either team find the moment of brilliance to get all three points. I have to say I believe that RSL will continue to throw numbers forward in an attempt to squeak this one out.

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83rd Minute – Strap on your seat belts folks, this one could get dicey. RSL is sending their attacking numbers forward and Saborio nearly gets a chance on Thornton.

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81st Minute – FANTASTIC finish by Justin Braun. Despite two markers, the forward turns and finishes with a great goal in the top left corner of Nick Rimando's net. A goal of the week candidate right there.

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80th minute – CHIVAS USA GOAL!!! WHAT A SHOT! JUSTIN BRAUN WITH THE GOAL!!

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79th Minute – Chivas continuing to push up. RSL is doing the job to clear, but no real threats on Rimando's net by the Rojiblancos.

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78th Minute – REAL SALT LAKE SUB: Espindola comes on for Campos.

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77th Minute – CHIVAS USA SUB: Chijindu finally sees the field and Jesus Padilla comes off.

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76th Minute – Gavin with a laser of a shot that earns the corner, but the effort is for not. The Rojiblancos retain possession as Chujindu waits to come on.

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74th Minute – Delgado goes down for Chivas and is slow to rise, but the Costa Rican returns to the field quickly.

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72nd Minute – A bad give away from Alexandre sets up Gavin, but the midfielder sends it just wide of the far post. No dice for Chivas. Chijindu preparing to come on.

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71st Minute – Chivas USA has had the lion share of the possession this half, but they are just not givin you the impression that they are going to score right now.

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69th Minute – Zemanski takes a shot from distance, but the shot goes over the net of Rimando. All the while, Trujillo sat open on the right side, in a world of space. Chvias USA needs to connect to their open men.

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68th Minute – The Rojiblancos are really throwing their sticks into the wind now and sending their numbers forward to try to put some pressure on the RSL backline.

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67th Minute – Jean Alexandre picks up a yellow with a harsh tackle on a Chivas attacker.

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66th Minute – Padilla gets a chance at the net, but the forward is rapped up and loses the ball. Chivas USA having a serious problem today retaining possession.

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63rd Minute – For all his critics, Braun is very effective as lone striker. He is healthy enough to go the rest of the way after picking up an injury in the game against Columbus and will be relied upon to create some offense.

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62nd Minute – CHIVAS USA SUB: Justin Braun coming on for Maicon Santos.

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59th Minute – The Rojiblancos are looking lively right now. dominating possession and taking a few speculative efforts at the RSL net. If a goal is going to come, right now would be a good bet.

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57th Minute – Lets see if the Costa Rican Macotelo can inject some life into this Chivas USA team which has not looked on its game at all tonight. With Macotelo's inclusion there are now four Costa Ricans on the field. Three for Chivas and one for RSL. Viva Los Ticos night at the HDC apparently.

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54th Minute – CHIVAS USA SUB: The Rojiblancos make their first sub of the night, Jose Macotelo comes on for the ineffective Michael Lahoud.

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52nd Minute – RSL midfielder Andy Williams is down on the ground right now.  He seems to have suffered a shot to the head by Ben Zemanski Elbow.

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49th Minute – Wingert's goal was his first goal in 147 games. The first goal in his MLS career which was the 5th longest streak in league history.

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46th Minute – Caught up with Maykel Galindo at the half. The striker is optimistic that he'll be able to return to the pitch in the next week. His ankle sprain was just too  much to handle this week.

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45th Minute – And We're Back.

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HALFTIME – If we're thinking of potential subs, I might expect Chukwudi Chijindu to get a chance at some time in the second half. His physical style may be enough for the Rojiblancos to get back into this match. We'll be back at the start of the second half. If you're following along, be sure to let me know where you hail from and who you're supporting tonight.

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HALFTIME – Martin Vasquez's men are going to be upset to not be going into the half tied up, Chivas USA played an efficient half, but a slip up at the end of the half puts them down 1-0. A moment of brilliance by Javier Morales and Chris Wingert was all that the defending champions needed to put the Rojiblancos down a goal.

Chivas USA must respond and will need to start creating more chances if they are going to get back into this game.

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45th Minute – Spoke too soon. Javier Morales does an impressive run and is unlucky to not score on his shot that went across the goalmouth and hit the far post. Wingert with a fantastic shot off the rebound and RSL gets a 1-0 lead into the half.

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45th Minute – GOAL REAL SALT LAKE!! CHRIS WINGERT WITH A GOAL OFF THE REBOUND FROM MORALES!

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44th Minute -  Approaching the half, I have to say I'm slightly disappointed in the play of the defending champions. Despite dominating possession an estimated 70-30, they have not had a truly substantive shot on net.

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42nd Minute – MOMENT of danger right there. Morales fires in a cross to Campos who bangs against Thornton, but the ball goes out for a goal kick.

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41st Minute – The game appears to be stuck in midfield right now. Perhaps its time for a drinking game before the half. Any ideas out there? Padilla long shots? Turnovers? Times the Chivas girls are shown on TV?

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40th Minute – The Brazilian walks off the field and returns to action. No serious injury there.

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39th Minute – Yellow shown to RSL's Andy Williams for a challenge on Marcelo Saragosa. The midfielder is still on the ground.

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36th Minute – Santos looking threatening and earns the corner, but RSL is able to clear and put the ball back in the Chivas zone.

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35th Minute – For all the possession that Salt Lake has had tonight, the club has been unable to do much of anything and has not threatened the net of Zach Thornton at all.

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34th Minute – A very speculative effort by Padilla who is attempting to put some pressure on Rimando. Poor shot by Jesus who has not looked too active tonight.

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33rd Minute – Blair Gavin is looking a bit frustrated out there. He no longer has to deal with the presence of Beckerman, but Alexandre is much larger and far more physical. The Haitian is doing a good job in blanketing the rookie so far.

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29th Minute – Word from Real Salt Lake is Kyle Beckerman left the game with a left foot sprain.

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28th Minute – No luck for RSL as the free kick goes wayward. The Champions are continuing to pressure Chivas USA however and are looking by far the most dangerous team right now.

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27th Minute – Hard Foul by Saragosa on Morales and RSL will get a free kick while Saragosa picks up a yellow.

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25th Minute – RSL SUB: Kyle Beckerman comes off for the defending champions and Jean Alexandre comes on.

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21st Minute – Santos continuing to look dangerous. A clearance falls to the Brazilian, but he kicks it into row Z. Not a great effort by the forward.

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19th Minute – If you're following along, let me hear from you. Where are you from and who are you supporting tonight.

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16th Minute – SHOT BY MAICON SANTOS! Blair Gavin plays it to Maicon Santos who forces a diving save out of Rimando yet again. The Akron product and the Brazilian are working pretty well together early when they get the opportunity.

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14th Minute – Beckerman launches an effort from distance, but the shot goes wide. Neither team really generating much early. It appears that both sides are just feeling one another out so far.

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11th Minute – Real Salt Lake using the big field to their advantage as they attempt to stretch out Chivas USA's defense. However, Sabario gives away the ball and the Rojiblancos gain possession.

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10th Minute – Salt Lake putting the pressure on the Red and Whites, but Michael Lahoud attempts to break out. Lahoud loses the ball and RSL regains possession.

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7th Minute – GREAT SHOT BY JESUS PADILLA! Padilla takes a shot from distance, but Nick Rimando comes up big and makes a diving save.

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5th Minute – Tonight, expect the Rojiblancos to counter heavily as RSL dominates possession. Perhaps the Rojiblancos will have the same success that Inter Milan had earlier this afternoon.

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4th Minute – The Rojiblancos clear, but RSL is fighting to maintain possession.  We should expect to see quite a bit of possession tonight from the defending champions.

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3rd Minute – Trujillo with a foul and RSL has an indirect free kick just outside the Chivas box.

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1st Minute – And we're off!

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PRE-GAME – For the Rojiblancos to come through tonight, the club will need an impressive performance from rookie midfielder Blair Gavin who is going to be played tonight just behind lone striker Maicon Santos. Gavin will need to be effective in distribution for Chivas to grind out a result at home.

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PRE-GAME – Mariano Trujillo takes the captains arm band tonight for Chivas USA in place of Sacha Kljestan. The play of Chivas USA's Costa Rican Centerbacks Michael Umana and Carlos Delgado will be integral tonight as they go up against compatriot and reigning MLS player of the week Alvaro Saborio.

Real Salt Lake will be looking to go to the burly Costa Rican early and often as they look to continue their impressive winning streak. Also look for a big night from RSL playmaker Javier Morales who should give the young Chivas USA midfield all they can handle tonight.

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PRE-GAME– Here are the starting lineups:

REAL SALT LAKE

—————-Saborio——Campos—————-

———————–Morales————————

——-Grabavoy——————————Williams

———————-Beckerman———————–

Wingert—-Borchers—–Olave——–Russell

———————–Rimando———————

CHIVAS USA

————————–Santos————————–

—————————Gavin—————————

Lahoud——Zemanski—–Saragosa———Padilla

Borja———-Umana———-Delgado———-Trujillo

———————-Thornton————————–