SANDY -- If there is a better team in Major League Soccer right now than Real Salt Lake, it certainly isn't apparent.
In a collision between two of the top teams in the league this season, the Utah side simply outclassed and outgunned visiting Columbus on Saturday night.
Central midfielder Javier Morales scored a goal early in each half and Real knocked off the Crew 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium, equaling a franchise record with its 11th victory of the season.
"I think we've had a really successful run of games if you include the last home game and two away matches in difficult circumstances," Real boss Jason Kreis said. "To get the two draws and then come home and get a convincing win against a very, very good team makes us feel quite good about where we're at right now."
The final scoreline was much closer than the match ultimately was, with RSL misfiring badly on two empty net opportunities in the first half that could've put the match away early. In fact, other than a few late lapses in the final 30 minutes, Real just flat out owned the pitch against the Crew.
The opening 45 minutes showcased RSL's offensive prowess and ability to possess and create opportunities, with the home side outshooting the visitors 9-3 at the break.
"I don't know how many people doubt us a this point in the season," central defender Nat Borchers said. "It would really surprise me. I really think it was about us tonight -- how are we gonna come out, how are we gonna play energy level, how would we create chances."
And many of those chances came because of the absolutely brilliant play of Morales in the opening hour.
"I think if you look over the season thus far, you're probably not going to see another player dominate a game like he (Morales) did tonight," Borchers said. "I thought he was spectacular. You need players like that to change the game."
Kreis called Morales' play during the opening half "in the upper, upper echelon of performances here in Real Salt Lake history."
Morales tallied his first goal on a fantastic shot that broke around the corner through traffic from 15 yards out and banked in off the far post.
"When I looked at the goal I saw a lot of people there, so I tried to kick it to the second post," Morales said. "(I thought) maybe somebody would flick it, but nobody touched it. When I kicked the ball I thought it's in. But in the last moment the ball went (wide) and 'Oh my god,' and then in."
With the match approaching the hour mark, Kreis hoped to get Morales off the field, but the Crew were starting to find seams in Real's defense.
In the 60th minute, outside midfielder Ned Grabavoy won a free kick just outside the box and Morales smashed the kick around the wall and just inside the post to make it 2-0 and give Real some much needed breathing room.
"When he stepped up to take the kick I was hoping he would score it so I could take him out," Kreis said. "And he obliged (that wish)."
Real improved to 11-4-6 (39 points) with the win and extended its unbeaten run at Rio Tinto to 21 straight league matches, just one off the all-time record of 22 owned by the Crew.
* GALAXY 1, RED BULL 0: At Harrison, N.J., Edson Buddle scored his league-leading 13th goal in the 10th minute, and the Los Angeles Galaxy made it stand up in a victory over the New York Red Bulls that featured the brightest of Major League Soccer's newly signed stars.
Mexican national team captain Rafael Marquez made his first home start for the Red Bulls after missing Wednesday's game against Toronto while playing for his national team against Spain.
Playing a central midfield position until substituted in the 71st minute, he joined former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel to give the Red Bulls MLS's most famous trio. The well-known names drew a crowd of 25,000 to Red Bull Arena.
Bruce Arena did not coach the Los Angeles Galaxy in Saturday night's 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls after spending two nights in a hospital with what may be Dengue fever.
Arena was at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Tuesday for his U.S. Hall of Fame induction before the U.S.-Brazil game. He was admitted to Hoboken Medical Center on Thursday and discharged Saturday.
"I'm better," he said after watching Saturday night's game at Red Bull Arena from a private box. The team was coached by associate coach Dave Sarachan and assistant Cobi Jones.
Arena was in the locker room following the game and said he may have Dengue fever, which is caused by a mosquito bite. The illness is usually contracted in the tropics -- the Galaxy played a CONCACAF Champions League game at the Puerto Rico Islanders on Aug. 4.
"We'll have to wait a few days for the test results," the former U.S. national team coach said.
Dengue fever is described as causing painful joint pains and headaches, and is potentially life-threatening.
* REVOLUTION 1, DYNAMO 0: At Foxboro, Mass., Ilja Stolica scored his first career goal in his first starting assignment and New England beat Houston.
New England (6-9-3) stretched its unbeaten streak in MLS and SuperLiga competition to eight matches (6-0-2), allowing just two goals over that span. Matt Reis made three saves for his third shutout of the season.
Houston (5-10-5) fell to 1-7-2 on the road this season with just seven goals, and is without an MLS win since May 22. The Dynamo had 11 corner kicks, nine in the second half.
* FC DALLAS 3, UNITED 1: At Washington, Eric Alexander scored his first career goal and FC Dallas beat D.C. to stretch its road unbeaten streak to nine, tying the MLS record.
David Ferreira and Jeff Cunningham also scored for FC Dallas (8-2-9).
Jair Benitez's own-goal in the 79th minute was the only tally for United (3-14-3), which has lost five straight.
Alexander converted from the top of the box in the 49th minute.
Ferreira scored his sixth of the season into an open goal in the 36th minute, and Cunningham picked up his seventh during stoppage time.
* RAPIDS 1, UNION 1: At Chester, Pa., Danny Mwanga scored in the 73rd minute to give Philadelphia a 1-1 tie with Colorado.
The rookie's seventh goal of the season came on an assists from Sebastien Le Toux. Philadelphia is winless with three ties in its past five games.
Jeff Larentowicz scored from 30 yards in the 59th minute out afteer Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz stopped a shot but couldn't control the rebound.
* DONOVAN SAYS MLS MUST SPEND TO KEEP TOP TALENT: Landon Donovan says Major League Soccer must spend in order to keep its top young talent.
Following the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, Donovan said the league needs more than just new foreign stars, such as New York's Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez.
He cited the departures of forward Yura Movsisyan, who left Real Salt Lake after last season to sign with Denmark's Randers, and Chris Rolfe, a midfielder and forward who quit the Chicago Fire to join Denmark's AaB Aalborg this year.
Donovan's $2.05 million salary this season is more than 14 times the league's $138,169 average as of mid-June. He said MLS should make an effort to retain Galaxy teammate Edson Buddle and Real Salt Lake's Robbie Findley, who both could leave for European clubs.
"We need to get to the point where financially we can compensate guys in the proper way to keep them around," Donovan said. "That makes the league better from top to bottom."
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