Real Salt Lake

SANDY, Utah - Kyle Beckerman, Jamison Olave and Alvaro Saborio scored goals to lead Real Salt Lake over the Union, 3-0, Saturday in Major League Soccer. Real Salt Lake (3-3-1) extended its regular-season home unbeaten streak to a team-record 13 games, and the Union lost their fourth straight - all on the road. The Union (1-5-0) are playing 12 of the first 15 games of their inaugural season on the road, while they await completion of their new stadium in Chester. Real Salt Lake's Robbie Findley left the game in the first half because of a bruised back, potentially jeopardizing his chance to compete for a spot on the U.S. men's national team for the coming World Cup in South Africa.

Before Wednesday, the last time the Union played to a draw it felt like a loss. Yet, after Wednesday's 1-1 tie at PPL Park with defending Major League Soccer champion Real Salt Lake, there was a much different feeling. In fact, following Sunday's 3-1 loss at FC Dallas, the Union (4-10-4) received some needed confidence by earning the draw with Real Salt Lake, a team battling to defend its MLS championship. Actually, it's been the toughest stretch of the season for the Union and it continues with Saturday's 4 p.m. game at PPL Park against the Colorado Rapids (7-5-6)

It was originally not scheduled this way, but the Union will return Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes after having a two-week break. Originally the Union were supposed to play Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah, last Saturday, but that match was rescheduled until Sept. 3 because Real was involved in the CONCACAF Champions League final, where they finished as runners-up to the Mexican club Monterrey. Two weeks off is an eternity for MLS teams, and Union team manager Peter Nowak had to alter his training regimen.

The pieces were in place for a Union loss, perhaps even a blowout. The Union were missing their starting goalkeeper, replaced by one who ranks last in MLS in goals-against average. This against Real Salt Lake, which has lost only once the last month. Adding to the circumstances, the Union - winless in nearly a month - faced the defending champions who also lead the league in scoring this season. All things considered, the 16,128 fans at PPL Park gladly accepted a 1-1 draw Wednesday night, as did the Union players and coaching staff, which received a renewed sense of confidence.

SANDY, Utah - If the Union were going to turn things around in time to break into the Major League Soccer playoffs, Saturday night would have been a good moment. But coming off nearly two weeks of rest and playing against a Real Salt Lake side missing eight players to injuries and international duty, the Union failed to capitalize on their opportunities, falling 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Union fell behind in the 18th minute when Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman bounced a short corner off teammate Paulo Araujo Jr., made a looping run around the penalty box, and, finding no challengers, took an open shot from deep outside the 18 past late-diving Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.

The 16th MLS season begins in earnest this weekend with parity as the buzz word. The first game took place on Tuesday, when the Los Angeles Galaxy earned a 1-0 win in Seattle against Sounders FC. The remaining 16 MLS teams will open their season on Saturday. That includes the Union, who visit Houston to meet the Dynamo. As the opening game suggested, the Galaxy and their star-studded lineup that includes David Beckham and Landon Donovan and has added high-scoring Juan Pablo Angel (who missed the opener because of illness)

MIKE MAGEE scored the go-ahead goal on a pass from David Beckham in the 58th minute, and Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane also scored as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake, 3-1 in the MLS Western Conference final in Carson, Calif., last night. The Galaxy will play the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup on Nov. 20 in Carson. Houston beat host Sporting Kansas City, 2-0, for the Eastern Conference title yesterday. This is the LA' seventh trip to the title game, the most of any team in the league.

Mike Magee scored the go-ahead goal on a pass from David Beckham in the 58th minute, and Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane also scored as the Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup final with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday night in the Western Conference final in Carson, Calif. Los Angeles advanced to face the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup final on Nov. 20 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, where the Galaxy haven't lost all year. Earlier in the day, the Dynamo got goals from Andre Hainault and Carlo Costly to beat Sporting Kansas City, 2-0, in the Eastern Conference title game in Kansas City, Kan. Houston midfielder Brad Davis, who led MLS with 16 assists this season, left the game after injuring his right quadriceps in the 37th minute.

He has not quite burst onto his latest scene, but Union forward-midfielder Freddy Adu remains among the team's more intriguing figures as it prepares for its first MLS Cup playoff appearance with Sunday's 5 p.m. matchup at PPL Park against the Houston Dynamo. Amid plenty of fanfare, Adu joined the Union on Aug. 12, practiced with the team that day, and made his debut the next evening in a 1-1 draw against visiting Dallas. Adu has appeared in 11 games for the Union, with six starts.

The Union opened their second Major League Soccer season by playing Houston, and they will begin their first playoff run against the same Dynamo team. With Houston's 3-1 win on Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy in the final game of the MLS regular season, the Union settled into No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and will meet No. 2 seed Houston in the two-game conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs. Both teams received a bye from the four-team wild-card round.

JUAN PABLO ANGEL'S goal in the 90th minute lifted Chivas USA to a 1-1 draw with the Union last night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Union (10-7-14, 44 points) had taken the lead in the 59th minute when Justin Mapp found space in the Chivas midfield and fired a shot from the edge of the box that was too much for goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Freddy Adu was credited with an assist on the play. It was Mapp's third goal of the season. After pressuring the Union at the end of the match, Chivas got the tying score when Mike Lahoud connected with Angel, who was able to head the ball into the net. It was Angel's seventh goal in seven games with Chivas.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER D.C. United (9-8-11, 38 points) at Union (9-7-13, 40 points) Thursday, 8 p.m. at PPL Park. TV: ESPN2. Last MLS game: D.C. United scored a 4-1 win over visiting Real Salt Lake on Saturday. The Union played to a 1-1 draw on Friday at Sporting Kansas City. Outlook: Both teams are in serious running for one of the 10 MLS playoff spots. Entering Wednesday, the Union were the No. 9 seed, and United was No. 11. . . . Union midfielder Freddy Adu, who missed Friday's game with an ankle injury, said Wednesday that he is ready to go. . . . Forward Danny Mwanga missed the last game with a hip flexor and is listed as probable.

SANDY, Utah - If the Union were going to turn things around in time to break into the Major League Soccer playoffs, Saturday night would have been a good moment. But coming off nearly two weeks of rest and playing against a Real Salt Lake side missing eight players to injuries and international duty, the Union failed to capitalize on their opportunities, falling 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Union fell behind in the 18th minute when Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman bounced a short corner off teammate Paulo Araujo Jr., made a looping run around the penalty box, and, finding no challengers, took an open shot from deep outside the 18 past late-diving Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.

Union team manager Peter Nowak has some simple advice for his suddenly slumping team. And even though it may be bad for those of us who chronicle the developments on a weekly basis, it can't hurt to try. Nowak has told his players not to read the Major League Soccer standings. And if they aren't going to read the standings, they shouldn't (we regret to say) read this column or any others that talk about postseason prospects. Make no mistake, the Union, in their second year, are still in a good position to make the playoffs, in which 10 of the 18 MLS teams will participate.

The Union still are on course to qualify for the postseason in their second Major League Soccer season, but it's no longer the slam dunk it once appeared to be. And there don't appear to be many gimmes in the final 10 games of the regular season. That is why the Sept. 7 game at PPL Park in Chester against the New England Revolution - rescheduled from Sunday due to Hurricane Irene - is so crucial. New England is the last MLS team the Union beat, 3-0 on the road at Gillette Stadium on July 17. Since then, the Union are 0-2-3 in their last five MLS games.

When their careers first intersected, Peter Nowak's as a coach and Freddy Adu as a player, the relationship wasn't always harmonious. Nowak was a first-year coach with D.C. United in 2004 and Adu was in his rookie Major League Soccer season after turning professional at age 14. Both admitted to butting heads, but now many years later time must be the true healer. Yes, that was Nowak, with his arm around Adu, both smiling after the Union officially announced his signing during Friday's news conference at PPL Park.