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SALT LAKE CITY -- Kyle Beckerman scored two goals to power Real Salt Lake to a 4-0 rout over D.C. United on Saturday night.
Robbie Findley had a goal and an assist and Fabian Espindola also scored to help Real Salt Lake (1-1-1) post its first victory of the season.
Dema Kovalenko added two assists and goalkeeper Nick Rimando registered his 44th career shutout for Real Salt Lake, which posted the largest margin of victory in franchise history in dropping D.C. United to 1-2-0.
It was the first two goals of the season for Beckerman, putting him one shy of his total for 2007.
Beckerman got RSL off to a fast start, notching his first tally in the 12th minute.
Kovalenko one-touched a pass to a streaking Beckerman, who was unmarked in the midfield, leaving him one-on-one with goalkeeper Jose Carvallo. Beckerman calmly send a left-footed shot on the ground inside near post and past Carvallo.
Real Salt Lake doubled the lead in the 19th minute on a beautiful goal by Espindola.
Although he clearly marked well by United's Gonzalo Peralata, Espindola chest-trapped a long ball from Kovalenko and, after a bounce, volleyed a left-footed shot off the left hand of Carvallo.
Beckerman's second goal put the game out of reach. After a string of passes, Nat Borchers centers a ball to Findley, who left it for a charging Beckerman, who blasted a one-timer from 20 yards into the far right corner past a helpless Carvallo in the 81st minute.
Findley closed out the scoring with a header in the 90 minute.
Saturday, April 12
San Jose 0 Chicago 1 Final
Columbus 4 Chivas USA 3 Final
New England 0 Colorado 1 Final
Kansas City 0 Houston 0 Final
Dallas 2 New York Red Bulls 0 Final
Real Salt Lake 4 DC United 0 Final
MLS POSTGAME QUOTE SHEET
REAL SALT LAKE 4 : 0 D.C. UNITED
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM - SALT LAKE CITY, UT
RSL HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On Real Salt Lake's scoring dominance:
"I would never have predicted a 4-0 score line against D.C. United. I think we were fortunate with some of the goals and, as I have said, I think you know when we score the goals it makes us look better cause obviously you win games. For me the soccer wasn't quite as good as I thought it has been the last two games on our side. So scoring the goals obviously makes things look brighter, but I think there are some things to take away from tonight's game as well."
On how Real Salt Lake can improve:
"Especially in the first half, I think we were a little unsure how to play with a lead, and I think we just dropped off slowly and we allowed them to just come at us, come at us, and come at us. Probably we were fortunate we didn't give them one before halftime because I think that could've been crucial against us, and so going forward we'll have some more tactical talks about how we need to handle that situation. In the second half I thought that was much, much better."
On RSL's defensive effort:
"I was very pleased with how we dealt with stuff in the box. I think the last 20 minutes in the first half we really just started to concede everything right into our box actually, but I thought our defenders did very well dealing with crosses, which has been something that we've been talking about and working on because I feel that it has been a little bit of a weakness for us. So I thought tonight they did very well with that."
On MF Kyle Beckerman's night:
"For me, he's your typical box-to-box midfielder. He's a guy that has the fitness, and the ability, the mentality to play over the entire field and get back into our box and defend and get into their box to attack, and today he did it in a way that was different than last week. Last week he was getting into the box and into the front line almost ahead our forwards; he was in there way too early. So today it was nice to see him come into plays late; that second goal was picture-perfect, what we want from him. We want him to be arriving into the box for balls way back and for him to be able to strike it, and so I think he took the message right on cue this week."
RSL MF/CAPTAIN KYLE BECKERMAN
On how RSL got the three points:
"Tonight it all came together. I don't think it was our best performance soccer-wise, but as a team we fought and had a good spirit. The team's spirit was just excellent tonight."
On if tonight's result sends a message:
"We've been trying to send the message all season that this is a new Real Salt Lake, so when it didn't happen the first two games we were a bit frustrated. We just said let's keep doing what we're doing, work hard in practice and eventually it will come for us."
On his pair of goals:
"Both of them felt great. With Robbie [Findley], we had a couple of those (plays) last year that just didn't come off, but tonight it came off perfectly. And them a great ball by Dema [Kovalenko] as well. If I got a chance tonight I wanted to just put it away; that's kind of what we've been lacking the first two games. We've had teams on the ropes but we haven't been putting them out, but tonight we did that."
RSL FW FABIAN ESPÍNDOLA
On his first goal of the season:
"It was a long pass from Dema [Kovalenko]. I put it down on the ground, did a little turn and just took a shot. Luckily I was able to get across on it and put it off the goalkeeper's hands."
On getting the goal and the win:
"I'm really happy about it, but I feel better for the team - they deserved to get this result. We came out playing really good for a long time and we finally broke through tonight. We came in playing well and feel a lot more relaxed now that we have three points to show for it."
On getting back into the RSL starting XI this week:
"Mostly I've just been working really hard to get here. Obviously everybody wants to play and today we found a good combination that got us a good result."
RSL GK NICK RIMANDO
On getting the first win of the season:
"It's always good getting that first victory. You get a tie and a loss and now you're fighting to get three points. We knew we had to play well in front of our fans and play well for us because we believed in ourselves and we knew that we were the better team in those two games and tonight we proved it to ourselves."
D.C.UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHN
On the defeat:
"It was the first time we've had to rely on our depth, just because the amount of games we've had. We learned a lot. Just coming from a game like Wednesday (against Pachuca) and comparing it to today, it was two different teams."
On what United can take from tonight's game:
"I know our guys are weathered so you have to look past this and move on. Obviously we'll address some things but, there's days like this that happen and you have to look beyond that and get ready for the next one."
D.C. UNITED FW/CAPTAIN JAIME MORENO
Thoughts on the match:
"It was a very disappointing performance and we know that each of us should take responsibility for this game."
On playing three games in eight days:
"We don't want poor excuses. We train for a reason and it might affect some players, but this is our job and we definitely have to do a better job."
D.C. UNITED MF CLYDE SIMMS
On whether United can take anything away from tonight's match:
"Well, it's going to be different here, just with the field conditions, so we can't think about it much. We've just got to put it past us."
On D.C.'s team morale after a tough week:
"We've just gotta get back to the drawing board, get back in practice. We have a couple more days before our next game and a quick turn around after our last game. I'm sure we had a couple of tired legs, but we'll just get back, get some rest and we'll be at home next game, which is always a plus for us."
