Chivas USA will play Real Salt Lake

AT REAL SALT LAKE

Time: 6.

On the air: TV: FSN West. Radio: 690.

Where: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah.

Records: Chivas USA 10-7-3, Real 7-9-6.

Record vs. Real: 1-0.

Update: Consecutive 2-0 victories over New York and Toronto have lightened the mood considerably in the Chivas locker room, with the players’ confidence restored after five consecutive losses. Coach Preki said the signing of Brazilian forward Maicon Santos and Mexican midfielder Jesus Padilla also has boosted the club. Santos, in particular, looked the part in the win over Toronto. Barring a slump by all three, Houston, Columbus and Chicago will reach the playoffs, leaving, realistically, eight teams fighting for the other five spots. But Preki wants more. “We’re not going be satisfied just making the playoffs,” he said. “I think we can go further. This is a period of adjustment for us, with some new faces. Hopefully, toward the end of the year we’ll be the team that we want to be.” A win tonight would move Chivas into second place in the West, ahead of the Galaxy, which it plays Saturday in Carson. Real, which has not lost an MLS game at home since May, needs a victory to prevent it from falling further out of playoff contention. Chivas has won six of the last seven games between the teams.

--Grahame L. Jones