Real Salt Lake squandered a wonderful chance to pick up a win against the Los Angeles Galaxy, but that wasn’t the only thing they lost. Midfielder Fabian Espindola was revved up after his team allowed the Galaxy to claw their way back from 2-1 to tie in the 69th minute and took advantage of an open net to take a 3-2 lead…or so he thought. When he wasn’t ruled offside, Espindola ran towards midfield and did a somersault, but landed awkwardly and did some damage he didn’t expect.

…[W]hen Espindola used his head to redirect a shot by Kyle Beckerman into the net in the sixth minute. When no flag came up from the linesman, Espindola ran to midfield and did a somersault…

Espindola tried to continue, but came out after another minute. He later left the field on crutches. RSL coach Jason Kreis said afterward that he’s “fearful” Espindola suffered a fractured right leg and expects him to be out six weeks.

Maybe Kaka has something going for him when he goes down to his knees and prays to baby Jesus. Can’t really get hurt doing that. Anyway…

“It’s a little mind-boggling,” Kreis said. Espindola, his right foot and ankle wrapped in bandages, sat stunned at his locker afterward.
“I’m embarrassed,” said Espindola, who celebrated goals with a flip since his days as a youth player in Argentina.
“I’m never going to do that again. I don’t know what happened. I’ve done it a million times. If I would have known I never would have done it.”

The real kicker: his goal was disallowed.

RSL gets a break in split [Salt Lake Tribune via Deadspin]
Image [Daylife]