Real Salt Lake won’t have too much time to dwell on its most recent loss.
Real (2-11-6) returns to Rice-Eccles Stadium tonight to face the Kansas City Wizards after losing to Chivas USA 1-0 Sunday night.
The club continued a frustrating lack of scoring that makes wins all the more difficult to come by.
“We put the work in during the week and we’re chasing goals,” said goalkeeper Nick Rimando. “That’s what’s wrong with us. We need to get the first goal.”
Goals are difficult to tally when the offensive system isn’t producing good setups.
Real has posted a league-low five assists — just more than one-third of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 14, which is the next lowest total.
“That’s what it comes down to, really,” said head coach Jason Kreis. “It’s just that final pass, that final touch.”
The final touch hasn’t been there for the team with the league’s worst record.
Kansas City, on the other hand, has not had the same struggles
The Wizards (9-8-5) have scored 35 goals this season — the fourth-highest total in MLS — while tacking up 34 assists.
Kansas City is lead by its ever-dangerous striker, Eddie Johnson.
Johnson has produced 12 goals this season, including three multi-goal games.
Real has scored 14 goals and rendered four multi-goal games as a team this season.
One of RSL’s multi-goal games resulted in a 2-1 victory against D.C. United on June 23 when Robbie Findley lifted the spirits of Salt Lake City with two goals in his club debut.
RSL’s habit for nabbing victories against the top teams in the league continued Aug. 4 when it surprised the Houston Dynamo 1-0, again by the prowess of Findley.
“I think the hardest thing for me is that we’re losing these games 1-0 and somehow we win against Houston,” Rimando said. “Why can’t we keep it consistent?”
Consistency on defense has not been a problem with Rimando manning the goal.
Rimando is second only to New England’s Matt Reis in both shots faced and saves in the MLS with 114 and 90, respectively.
Rimando stood strong against seven shots on goal from Chivas on Sunday while saving six.
“(Rimando) was fantastic again,” Kreis said. “He made a host of saves there to keep us alive.”
Real’s playoff hopes won’t be alive much longer if the team stays on its current path of losing.
With the worst record in the MLS, Real is flirting with an unpopular piece of history. Although the team is still pushing for the playoffs, it is on pace to begrudgingly complete the most futile season in MLS history — currently held by the 2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny, who went 4-21-2.
Kansas City hopes to push Real closer to that infamous landmark.
The Wizards are only one point behind the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings. A win would propel Kansas City into third place in the Eastern Conference before it takes on the best in the West when it visits Houston on Sept. 1.
Real hopes to win a home game before hitting the road for four straight matches.
Winless away from home this season, the road schedule does not lighten up for RSL.
After visiting the Galaxy and David Beckham, Real makes stops in Houston, Washington, D.C. and Toronto before finally coming back to Salt Lake City.
The club is hoping its newest members — Argentines Fabian Espindola, Matias Mantilla and Javier Morales — can help change its road-trip fortunes.
“(The Argentines) are young, they’re good players, they’re good with their feet, they’re technical,” Rimando said.
Any talent is of use to a team still looking for chemistry.
Lennie MahlerAlecko Eskandarian tangles with defense in RSL’s loss against Chicago Fire. RSL will try to end their scoring drought tonight against Kansas City Wizards at Rice-Eccles Stadium.