SANDY -- Real Salt Lake did exactly what it needed to do last week, capturing three points in a home match against an expansion team.
While the result was satisfying, the field play was quite a disappointment for the squad.
"A lot of anger, aggravation, disappointment; I was really displeased with our first half," RSL coach Jason Kreis said following the match, a 3-0 victory over Philadelphia. "I really felt like Philadelphia was the better team. We were very fortunate to have a lead at all.
"I felt like Philadelphia wanted the game more in the first half and that is unacceptable, and we let the players know that. There was no disagreement on their part, and what we saw was a fantastic reaction in the second half. We ended up getting what we deserved and what we worked for, which was a result in the end."
With back-to-back wins under their belts, Real Salt Lake will attempt to pick up three more points in the finale of a three-match home stand tonight against the Houston Dynamo.
The ESPN2-televised fixture gets under way at 7 p.m., pitting the Utah and Texas sides for the second time this season.
Real (3-3-1, 10 points) surrendered a 1-0 second half lead during the first encounter when central defender Jamison Olave was whistled for infractions twice inside the penalty area within minutes of each other, and Brad Davis converted both spot kicks.
Houston comes into Rio Tinto at 4-3-1 with 13 points sitting in second place on the Western Conference table.
On Saturday, Real Salt Lake will pit its reserve squad against Mexico's Under-21 National Team at 4 p.m.
It will be the third of three matches in Utah for the El Tri youngsters, who faced BYU's mens Premier Development League team on Wednesday night in Provo and will take on Weber State's men's club soccer team on Friday.
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