SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - So much for the rust factor. Real Salt Lake didn't skip a beat following a three-week layoff in a 3-0 rout over Chivas USA Saturday night.
"I thought it was a great team effort from everybody," said midfielder Ned Grabavoy. "That's good coming off such a long break."
RSL proved it still is the best team in MLS right now, with a 10-3-2 record. The team now sets its sights on the defending MLS Cup champion L.A. Galaxy Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Despite having big stars like David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, the Galaxy have struggled this year in defense of their title, compiling a lowly 4-8-2 record. But RSL isn't taking them lightly.
"We're going to treat them as they deserve to be treated," said Grabavoy. "Like the defending champs."
"L.A. is still a very good team," said head coach Jason Kreis. "We need to focus on the opponent we're playing and not the record."
RSL already beat the Galaxy in the first game of the season, 3-1 at the Home Depot Center, and it appears as though the Galaxy haven't recovered.
"I think sometimes after you win a championship, sometimes you get a little complacent," said defender Nat Borchers. "But I think they're still a very very good team."
This will be Real's first MLS match at home since May 26th. With Beckham and Donovan making their only scheduled appearance at Rio Tinto Stadium this season, the game is already sold out, and even the players are having trouble getting tickets.
"It's a Wednesday game and I have more people asking me for tickets for this game than I do any Saturday game," said defender Chris Wingert. "I'm out, so I'm about to go try to ask for some more in the lockerroom."
If fans can't score tickets, they can always watch the game on CW30 beginning at 7:00 p.m.
