It's not like RSL is a hard team to like. Coach Jason Kreis is a high-strung, feisty perfectionist. He's also forthright to a fault, which may not always come out smoothly, but at least you know it's from the heart.

The overriding issue for pro soccer in Salt Lake is that, well, it's soccer. Ask an average American to recall any MLS player not named Beckham and he'll go as quiet as a tomb. The league's contention is that soccer kids grow up to be soccer patrons and that multicultural America is ready for the world's game.

MLS is forging ahead on the premise that its future is in stadium ownership.

Salt Lake will be a prime proving ground in that area.

Thus the latest, greatest stadium in American soccer opened to fireworks, flags, dignitaries and the requisite renditions of Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight." The first goal came in the 31st minute, on a shot by New York's Dave van den Bergh. RSL answered 10 minutes later, compliments of RSL's Jamison Olave from inside the goal area.

With that backdrop, Real launched its second coming. The first was in 2004 when owner Dave Checketts announced the team was coming to Utah. Now it's playing in a lovely new place. Is Rio Tinto Stadium lovely? By all means. Functional? All the toilets seemed to be flushing. Efficient?

That sort of depends on whether you're talking about the stadium or the team.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com