Real aims to get up early on Arabe

MLS standings

Never before will scoring the first goal be so important than it is tonight for Real Salt Lake.

Make no mistake, the club is more than capable of overcoming a deficit — it has in all three previous CONCACAF Champions League matches — but the circumstances in this match are different.

Arabe Unido has proven it will do anything to get a result. It already embarrassed itself and the sport once during the competition with its stalling antics at Rio Tinto Stadium, and there's no reason to think it won't try and flop its way to a victory again in the return leg in Panama.

First, however, Arabe Undio must have the lead.

"If we handle ourselves better in the opening part of the game we shouldn't give them an opportunity to want to waste time," said Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis.

Tonight's match kicks off at 6 p.m., but will be broadcast tape delayed on Fox Soccer Channel at 9 p.m.

RSL has six points through three of six Champions League games, and a victory at Arabe Unido would put the club on the threshold of advancing to the quarterfinals with two group matches remaining.

"It's a situation where you don't want to lose out on an opportunity and have to start chasing the last two games," said Ned Grabavoy.

On the one hand, a victory tonight seems quite easy. Last week Cruz Azul thrashed Arabe Unido 6-0 in a group game in Panama, and there's no reason to think the MLS champs can't do the same thing. Then again, there are several factors working against Real Salt Lake.

After playing a match on Saturday, and then traveling 10 hours to the southern tip of Central American on Monday, fatigue could be a big issue for the visitors. Plus, RSL will be without regulars Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams and Javier Morales who didn't travel with the team.

Kyle Beckerman doesn't want to make excuses though.

"We just need to push through it, be grown-ups, good professionals. Make sure your body is right and head is right and ready to play at your highest level," he said.

It's all about scoring the first goal, which has been a problem.

In each of its three Champions League games so far, Real Salt Lake has coughed up a goal within the opening 13 minutes. It regrouped and took the lead all three times, ultimately winning twice.

A third win would put RSL on the verge of advancing.