MLS is notoriously unpredictable, but if ever there was a time for Real Salt Lake to dig deep and eliminate bad luck from the equation, that time is tonight.
As the 2006 season enters the home stretch, RSL's players know that victories are the only thing that will help them catch either Colorado or Chivas USA in the Western Conference playoff chase. If Salt Lake is serious about the playoffs, there's no reason it shouldn't pull out a victory at all costs at the Columbus Crew. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and will be televised on FSN.
"Points are at a premium. We have to start manufacturing points every game — tie or win is pretty much the way I see it," said new RSL defender Jack Stewart. "Losses are pretty much unacceptable. Yeah, you might hit a bump along the way, but you've just got to keep on getting points so we can get in the playoffs."
With the recent form of both clubs, RSL should actually be favored.
While Real has won two straight and earned 10 points in its last five league games, Columbus is in the midst of a 12-game winless streak, and its playoff hopes are spinning out of control. The Crew haven't won since a 2-1 victory at Dallas on June 3, and at 4-10-8 (20 points), they own the worst record in MLS.
RSL's 23 points in the standings aren't much better, but at least Salt Lake is streaking in a positive direction.
For Real, tonight is all about trying to build upon the positives from the Real Madrid international friendly last weekend and in the process locking down the franchise's first-ever three-game winning streak.
"You look at these guys, they don't have better athletes. It's in the minute little details why they're . . . one of the best teams in the world," said RSL midfielder Chris Klein about Real Madrid. "You look at a game like that, the lessons are endless."
For RSL's starting 11, tonight's game against the Crew should feel a little slower in comparison to Real Madrid. While that might be true, Salt Lake knows it's all about locking down a result.
When these teams met at Rice-Eccles Stadium back on May 6, Real thoroughly dominated the match but failed to capitalize on its scoring chances as the Crew stole a 1-0 victory and dropped RSL's record to 0-5-1.
Things have changed drastically in the three months since. Even though Real is still in a last-place tie with Los Angeles in the West, it has narrowed the gap in the standings and is playing its best soccer of the year. Two weeks ago, RSL upset D.C. United 2-1 and last Wednesday followed that up with an impressive 4-1 thrashing of the Colorado Rapids.
Equally as impressive for different reasons was its performance in a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid. In the first half of that match, when it was still 11 on 11, RSL was nearly as dangerous as Madrid and narrowly missed out on a couple of quality scoring chances. The confident way in which RSL attacked demonstrated just how much the club has improved this year.
ENDLINES: RSL traded the rights of ex-player Melvin Tarley to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a 2007 fourth-round supplemental draft pick.
RSL on the air
RSL at Columbus
Crew Stadium
Today, 5:30 p.m.
TV: FSN
Radio: AM 700 (English) AM 1600 (Spanish)
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com