...And Saborio Is His Name

After weeks and months of everyone around the Real Salt Lake raving about the Costa Rican super-striker, Major League Soccer was officially introduced to its best kept secret on Thursday night as Alvaro Saborio notched two top-shelf goals, leading his club to a 3-1 revenge romp over Western Conference foes (more like bitter enemies) Houston Dynamo.

On a day when his running partner at the top, Robbie Findley, was eating up all of the headlines for his inclusion in the 30 man US World Cup roster, Saborio stole the show with a dominant performance which he started off in the 24th minute, picking up a Javi-Mo poke and burying from just inside the penalty area.

After Morales fought off two defenders for possession, he was able to do just enough to get it to Saborio who caulked back and put it past Pat Onstad, putting RSL up 2-0.


The Costa Rican international was in no way finished though. In the 61st minute Saborio redirected a Morales restart with his head and past Onstad for his second of the night, tallying his second header goal in as many weeks.

The big question coming into the match is whether or not Findley was going to show some of that late 2009 form on the eve of the US men's team training camp. Findley answered some concern early with a well finished header from a Kyle Beckerman cross in the 3rd minute, but, on a whole, seemed to be still over thinking things, as he missed two easy one on one chances that RSL is so used to seeing him bury.

Houston, who won the last meeting between the sides early in the season 2-1, were completely outclassed on the night, managing only one tally on a broken defensive play in the late stages of the game.

Salt Lake looks to continue this hot streak next Saturday as they go on the road to face Chivas USA in Home Depot Stadium.

Man of the Match: Alvaro Saborio was simply dominant tonight, not only with his two goals but with his athleticism, his touch and his instinct tonight. The man looks to be about as "on" as a forward in this league can be right now, Major League Soccer is officially on notice.

Notes: 12, 945 fans were on hand for the midweek affair, and they were rocking, easily the loudest crowd of the year...Will Johnson was back in the lineup after missing a few weeks because of injury...Brian Ching came on late as a sub, his first action since being injured in week two.