Coaches were smiling, players were laughing and joking around ... finally, a sense of relief and fun had returned to the Real Salt Lake locker room last night, where players were following coach Jason Kreis' lead in proclaiming a fresh start to the rest of the season after their 2-0 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.

“It all came together for us, finally, after so long,” Kreis said. “So I think it's a solid sign that perhaps we're back. I just told our guys in the locker room, 'Welcome back.'”

The team's first road victory of the season pushed RSL back into the thick of the Major League Soccer playoff chase with 15 points —just one fewer than last season at this time — and gave it a needed confidence boost after so many lost opportunities.

“It's immeasurable, at this moment,” Kreis said.

Everybody agreed, even though RSL played a Galaxy team that was lacking star Landon Donovan — though it was itself without leading scorer Robbie Findley and suspended defender Robbie Russell.

“It's huge,” defender Nat Borchers said. “I can't say enough about the job these guys did.” Added midfielder Will Johnson, who was gleefully dashing out of the locker room to go visit with his girlfriend: “We feel like we started over again. It's been a miserable stretch.”