Big road tests begin for RSL

Most athletes are visual players. They pay close attention to the standings and plot out how they can possibly improve their positioning.

"It's nice to have a goal, sort of a light at the end of the tunnel," said Real Salt Lake forward Jason Kreis.

Even though there's still two-thirds of the MLS season yet to be played, for RSL, the next couple of weeks represent a critical stretch of the season, which begins tonight with a 7:30 kickoff at the Colorado Rapids.

Riding a franchise-record four-game unbeaten streak into Invesco Field, tonight's game could be the first step of what Real hopes is a significant push up the table. At 3-5-2, RSL is in sole possession of fourth place in the Western Conference, just three points behind the Rapids (4-4-2).

The following week, Real is on the road at the Houston Dynamo, who are currently six points clear of Salt Lake in the standings. If all goes according to plan, it's conceivable that RSL would be tied for second place in the West when it returns home on June 24 for a match against New England.

"They know they have to take it one game at a time, but visually, they like seeing what's out there," said Real coach John Ellinger.

It all starts tonight against the rival Rapids, a game that will be televised on Altitude Sports.

Less than two weeks ago, these two Rocky Mountain Cup foes hooked up in an intense 2-2 draw at Rice-Eccles Stadium that included a red card for Salt Lake's Atiba Harris as well as an 88th-minute game-tying goal by Kreis.

Neither side expects a drop off in emotion, not with Jeff Cunningham and Clint Mathis involved. Ten games into the 2006 season, it is becoming more and more apparent that Salt Lake fared much better than Colorado in an offseason trade in which the clubs swapped players. Through 10 games Cunningham was seven goals, while Mathis has zero goals and zero assists.

Following Cunningham's two goal performance against Chicago last weekend, Ellinger confirmed that Cunningham will once again be in the starting 11.

"Goals are coming, and we're getting results at the same time, so things are well right now," said Cunningham. "This is an opportunity to face my old club, so this is a good time for me."

Despite the mountain of confidence, tonight's game is still a road game for RSL. Before securing its first ever victory on the road with a 3-0 win over the Galaxy three weeks ago, Salt Lake had never once tasted success on the road in an MLS record 19 tries.

Kreis believes that dubious distinction is a thing of the past.

"I think there's definitely an air of confidence on this team, you can see it training every day," said Kreis. "This is a team with a winning attitude right now."

Aside for a 3-0 loss at Chivas USA to begin the season, RSL has fared well in its other three road games. It dropped a pair of one-goal games at FC Dallas and Houston before winning at Los Angeles.

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RSL on the air

Real Salt Lake at Colorado Raids

Today, 7:30 p.m.

Invesco Field

TV: Altitude Sports

Radio: 700AM (English), 1600AM (Spanish)

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com