SANDY — Of the 240 regular-season matches around Major League Soccer this year, none figures to be bigger than the one at Rio Tinto Stadium tonight.
Not only is it a rematch of last year's MLS Cup, but Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles are also the two highest-scoring teams in MLS, and they're on a combined 18-match unbeaten streak — 12 belonging to the Galaxy.
"Here we go. All of our guys are excited; I'm super pumped for the match. I'm really, really hoping our fans come out in droves and support us because I think it's a fantastic opportunity for this team and this club right now," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.
With the Galaxy already threatening to run away with the Western Conference title, it's easy to see why Kreis is hoping for a big crowd. In a league where parity seems to reign, the Galaxy own a staggering 10-0-2 record and lead second-place RSL by 12 points in the West.
Along the way, they've outscored their opponents 22-3.
"They have a good defense and (Donovan) Ricketts is flat-out the best keeper in the league right now, making saves when he's called upon," said RSL midfielder Andy Williams.
Ned Grabavoy, who won an MLS Cup with L.A. in 2005, agrees with Williams' assessment.
"I really think the goalkeeper signing of Ricketts was huge for that club. Last couple years before he came, it was kind of a carousel back there, and now they have someone they can count on to be one of the better keepers in the league," Grabavoy said.
Ricketts has a 0.27 goals-against average, down significantly from his 1.03 GAA last year. The Jamaican international broke his hand during regulation of last year's MLS Cup and watched helplessly as RSL beat his back-up for the championship.
As impressive as the Galaxy's 12-match unbeaten streak to start the season is, they'll get their toughest road test of the season along the Wasatch Front tonight.
Real Salt Lake hasn't lost at home in over a year, a 15-game unbeaten streak that included four convincing victories in May.
Another win trims the 12-point gap in the standings to nine, and with a game in hand, RSL is capable of keeping the West race interesting. A loss, however, and you might as well hand the Galaxy the Supporter's Shield in early June.
"I think it's a little early, but I do think that is something we need to be weary of. If we don't pick up the full three points, that gap becomes larger," Kreis said.
RSL's coach might get his wish about a big crowd. Oddly, there is no local TV broadcast of the MLS Cup rematch, so the only way to see the match is in person. Also, former American Idol winner David Cook will be playing a postgame concert.
Cook's presence off the field makes up for several significant voids on it. While Kyle Beckerman is still out a minimum of two weeks recovering from a torn tendon in his foot, RSL teammate Robbie Findley is in South Africa for the World Cup along with L.A.'s most dangerous attacking options, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle.
The Galaxy, though, haven't missed a beat without Donovan and Buddle. In a 4-1 thrashing of Houston last week, Jovan Kirovski picked up the scoring slack with a pair of goals.
"It's very important that we make a statement. We want three points here on our home field against a team that hasn't been beaten," Grabavoy said.
After Wednesday night, RSL's next league game isn't until June 25, when it hosts San Jose.
e-mail: jedward@desnews.com