Greg Vanney admitted LA Galaxy made their game against Real Salt Lake an "uphill battle" as their winless start to the MLS season continued with a 2-0 defeat.

The reigning MLS Cup champions suffered their fifth loss of the campaign as a Diego Luna brace was enough to seal Real Salt Lake's first win in three games.

Luna scored his first goal in the 21st minute, finishing low into the bottom-right corner after some neat build-up play by Alexandros Katranis.

Five minutes later, Luna doubled their lead as he pounced on the loose ball after Zanka failed to control his interception on the stretch.

It could have been worse for the Galaxy, but Diego Goncalves spurned a good chance to make it 3-0.

The Galaxy were unbeaten in five matches against RSL prior to Saturday's game but offered little threat as they failed to get any of their seven shots, worth 0.31 expected goals (xG), on target.

"We had a lot of attacks that looked like they could be promising," Vanney said. "Then it becomes an uphill battle when you're at altitude, down two goals."

LA Galaxy are the only team yet to win a game in the Western Conference, with other results leaving them bottom of the table.

Sporting Kansas City, who dismissed Peter Vermes earlier this week, earned their first win of the season with a 2-0 triumph over St. Louis City, while Houston Dynamo also got off the mark by beating Los Angeles FC 1-0 on Saturday. 

Galaxy have problems at both ends of the field. They have already conceded 14 goals in seven games this season while hitting the back of the net just five times.

Diego Fagundez wore the armband in Maya Yoshida's absence, with the captain injured, but he did not want to dwell on their poor run in MLS, with the Galaxy's focus already switching to their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final second leg against Tigres.

"I think the field didn't help us out [while defending]," he said. "But once again, we go back to the same thing.

"We shoot ourselves in the foot on some of those plays, and we get punished.

"It's one of those things that is frustrating, but now it's a quick turnaround. I think it's time to put this game behind us and focus on Tuesday."