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Jon GilbertStaff Writer
Forty seconds into Wednesday night’s match, Real Salt Lake found itself in an unfamiliar situation thanks to two unfamiliar faces. Matias Mantilla and Javier Morales teamed up to score the fastest goal in RSL history, giving the club a 1-0 lead less than one minute into Real’s match against Kansas City.
RSL snagged its third victory of the season, beating the Kansas City Wizards 3-1, while simultaneously overtaking the Los Angeles Galaxy for fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
In his RSL debut, Morales zipped a corner kick forty seconds into the match that traveled through the Kansas City penalty box and directly to Mantilla’s head. The Argentinean then redirected the ball to the inside far post.
Mantilla’s goal-in his first RSL start-replaced Brian Dunseth’s 3rd minute goal against FC Dallas on July 24, 2005 as the speediest strike in club history.
“I’ve never made a goal so quickly,” Mantilla said. “I’m happy more than anything that we won.”
RSL’s Argentine members were not done pushing for the win.
In the 42nd minute, Alecko Eskandarian gathered a misplayed ball in Wizard territory. The forward split two defenders with a long, terrific pass to Fabian Espindola-the third member of the trio from Argentina.
Espindola ran down the pass and pushed to the left of the goal area before blazing a shot past Kansas City keeper Kevin Hartman.The newest RSL forward followed the score with another impressive display-a front handspring into a backflip.
The celebration emulated the moves head coach Jason Kreis employed in his playing days.
“It almost brought a tear to my eye,” Kreis said with a smile.
The second half opened with a different energy for both teams.
Real-who had commanded the first half by taking 10 shots to Kansas City’s four-found itself defending a resurgent Wizard attack.
“(The Wizards) were throwing caution to the wind,” Kreis said. “They were putting asunder.”
Eddie Johnson found enough space in the 69th minute to cut Real’s lead in half. Johnson-assisted on the score by Sasha Victorine and Carlos Marinelli-turned 180 degrees to fire a shot that ripped from the top of the penalty box inside the left post just out of the reach of RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
With the crowd quieted, the Wizards seemed to be in control.
Andy Williams turned momentum back in Real’s favor in the 85th minute.Atiba Harris won a ball at midfield and played it forward to Williams. The midfielder took one glance and fired from 50 yards out. The shot arced just enough to fly over Hartman-who was playing 10 yards off frame-and into the net.
“I knew if I got one (chance) I was going to take it,” Williams said.
Espindola, Mantilla, and Morales showed why Real brought them to Salt Lake City.”I don’t think you could ask for a better start for those three,” Rimando said.
Real now sits one point ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference standings. Real has spent most of its season looking up to the rest of the league. With the win, RSL also took a step towards ensuring they don’t become the biggest single-season loser in MLS history.
As for not being in the bottom of the conference anymore, Kreis said, “It will feel better when we hold on to it Saturday night.”
RSL visits the Galaxy Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.