MLS wrap: Red Bulls´ freefall continues

Three goals in the opening 21 minutes helped Real Salt Lake to a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls in the MLS on Wednesday.

Alvaro Saborio opened the scoring and Fabian Espindola netted a brace as RSL put the match beyond doubt in the opening stages, the victory lifting them to second in the Western Conference.

Saborio opened the scoring on seven minutes when he headed home Andy Williams’ corner, before Espindola was gifted his first goal four minutes later after a horrible back-pass from Red Bulls defender Tim Ream.

When a precise Collen Warner through-ball set up Espindola for his ninth goal of the season on 21 minutes, the game was all but over, and although Joel Lindpere pulled one back for New York with an audacious bicycle kick, the hosts never looked like getting back in the match.

New York have now won just two of their last 13 matches, and have slumped to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, DC United threw away a two-goal lead as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Chivas USA in Washington DC.

Goals from Dwayne de Rosario and Ethan White had DC 2-0 up after 47 minutes, but a late brace from Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel ensured Chivas finished with a share of the points.

And Portland and the San Jose Earthquakes played out a 1-1 draw in Oregon, stretching the Timbers’ unbeaten run to five matches.