Real Salt Lake put in a dominant performance on Saturday night, scoring two goals in the first 12 minutes on its way to beating Chivas USA 4-0 at the Home Depot Center.
Here are some interesting numbers from the Claret-and-Cobalt’s victory in Southern California.
3
The number of goals scored by RSL forward Álvaro Saborío in Saturday’s game. The hat trick was Saborio’s second of the season – he bagged three goals in the 3-0 win over Portland on July 7 – and just the fourth in RSL history.
17
The number of goals Saborío has scored in 29 league games this year – the best-ever single-season haul by a RSL player. Saborío’s Saturday hat trick broke the single-season record previously held by former Claret-and-Cobalt forward Jeff Cunningham, who led the league with 16 goals in 2006.
13
The number of multi-goal games Saborío has in 91 career matches across all competitions for RSL. The Claret-and-Cobalt is now 30-5-5 all-time in games in which the Costa Rican international scores.
3
The number of assists RSL forward Fabían Espíndola had on Saturday night. It was the first time in RSL's 249-game MLS history that one player had three assists in a match.
0
The number of goals allowed by RSL on Saturday, the team’s fifth shutout in its last seven matches across all competitions. Claret-and-Cobalt goalie Nick Rimando tied his season-high with six saves to earn Saturday’s clean sheet – the 98th of his illustrious MLS career, putting him second behind FC Dallas goalie Kevin Hartman
2
RSL’s current seed in the Western Conference standings. The Claret-and-Cobalt – which entered the weekend in third in the West – is two points ahead of L.A. and three ahead of Seattle after both teams tied this weekend.
52
RSL’s 2012 point total. The club has now earned at least 50 points in three-consecutive seasons, joining the 2005/06/07 D.C. United squads and the 2010/11/12 L.A. Galaxy sides – who reached the milestone by drawing 1-1 at Colorado on Sunday night – as the only teams in MLS history with that unique distinction.
16
The number of wins Real Salt Lake has this year – another single-season club record. The 16-win total is one higher than the 15 the Claret-and-Cobalt had in 2010 and 2011. RSL has three regular season games remaining to add to its new club-record total.
9
The number of wins Real Salt Lake now has at the Home Depot Center. RSL – which has 24 MLS road wins in club history – will return to the HDC this coming Saturday for a crucial match against the L.A. Galaxy.
