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Grabavoy scores twice to lead RSL over Chivas USA

GrabavoycelebratesGoal2-ChivasUSA (USAToday)

By DAN KARELL

Ned Grabavoy proved to be the unlikely hero for Real Salt Lake on Sunday night.

The 30-year-old midfielder scored two goals, his first finishes since October 16, 2010, to lead RSL to a 4-1 rout over Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.

In between Grabavoy’s strikes were goals from RSL midfielder Joao Plata and forward Robbie Findley, while Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Villafaña scored for the Goats.

It was the perfect start for RSL as Grabavoy fired home in the fourth minute to give the visitors an early lead. A turnover at one end of the field was converted on the counter-attack to precision, though a poor angle taken by Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling to the ball helped Grabavoy evade the defender.

RSL doubled their lead three minutes after halftime, when Plata beat the offside trap and raced onto a header forward by teammate Kyle Beckerman, finishing past the on-rushing Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.

Chivas hit one back in the 55th minute, as a cross from midfielder Edgar Mejia found the head of the former El Sueño winner Villafaña, sending a looping header into the back of the net. The turning point of the match may have come just two minutes later, as RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando denied Jose Correa in the box from tying the match.

RSL added their third when Findley, on his way back from a knee injury, scored from close range as Chivas fell asleep on defense again in the 78th minute. Grabavoy put the match to bed in the first minute of 90th minute stoppage time, finishing between Kennedy’s legs and into an open net to bring three points back to Utah.

Here are the match highlights (after the jump):

Comments

    • You mean as close to an automatic three points for every team in the league that plays them? Yes but its the fans of MLS who want to keep them in the league for this reason. The actual league just sees CUSA as pimple on it’s nose and will eventually have to take action. They’re simply pathetic.

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  1. Can the Chivas USA experiment please end? For the good of the league and mercy for their fans, put that franchise out of its misery.

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  2. As recently as about a week ago there were a couple of posters on this site defending Chivas. This is their third loss in a row by 3 goals. Their coach has just admitted that they aren’t good enough for the MLS. Please sell this team to an American owner who cares and do a complete makeover of this sorry franchise and move it out of LA, where it will never rival the Galaxy in fan support.

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  3. The high line Chivas was playing burned them repeatedly, and it could have been worse, though they were able to cause RSL to be offside a few times, there were at least three offside calls that were incorrect and two of them were fairly obvious that stopped would be breakaways. That doesn’t even mention RSL’s poor finishing. Rimando bailed out the defense a couple of times, but that is just what he does…

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  4. Ned’s stoic look after the fourth RSL goal was classic and classy. No need to goal celebrate after destroying your opponent on their home field and in front of, nobody (no actual cusa fans were there, just a few family members of the team and a small group of RSL supporters).

    What’s not classy is the way chelis stormed off the field without acknowledging a single RSL coach or player. CUSA is a classless and clueless organization all around. I dare anyone to think of one good thing this club has done the last few years and don’t mention comic relief with their trades (charitable donations), coaches quotes or their “fans.”

    Here’s to hoping Robbie findley can finish a few of his open chances next time to make it 6-1 RSL.

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