Real Salt Lake: RSL, N.Y. have interesting history

With Real Salt Lake heading to the Big Apple this weekend — well, at least to nearby New Jersey — something memorable is bound to happen. It always does when RSL faces New York.

Sure, RSL has never beaten New York in nine all-time meetings, but along the way it has battled to six ties and some of the most exciting games in franchise history. A victory this Saturday for RSL would make up for a lot of past failures.

"It's going to happen eventually, so hopefully it happens this Saturday," said RSL defender Chris Wingert.

As interesting as the cross-country rivalry was prior to last year, it was cranked up a notch last fall with a pair of meetings. First, New York spoiled the Rio Tinto Stadium grand opening by earning a 1-1 tie. A month or so later, the visitors again played spoiler, earning an unexpected 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference final.

RSL dominated the match, outshooting New York 24-11, but rookie keeper Danny Cepero made six saves while his posts made three other saves to punch the Red Bulls' ticket to the MLS Cup.

"I think we're over last year a little; I think it would mean a lot more to us to get three wins in a row instead of taking revenge on the team that knocks us out of the playoffs," said Wingert.

Back in 2005, RSL played its inaugural match at New York, settling for a 0-0 draw in some of the worst conditions in league history. Winds gusted upward of 60 mph.

Conditions were much better a year later, but after being reduced to 10 men in the first half, RSL surrendered six goals in the second half, which still stands as the worst loss in franchise history.

Interestingly enough, in RSL's home games against New York those first two years, it earned ties when Jason Kreis scored a goal in the 90th and 89th minute, respectively.

Kreis was on the sideline during the next meeting, as he made his head-coaching debut on May 5, 2007. New York built a 3-1 lead in the final 10 minutes — thanks to a pair of goals from Clint Mathis — but RSL pulled off one of the most improbable ties in franchise history with a pair of stoppage-time goals to earn the 3-3 draw.

Bruce Arena was head coach of New York at the time, and after that match he joked that maybe he should get some coaching pointers from Kreis after the tie.

This budding little rivalry will add another chapter this Saturday, and Kreis in particular is definitely motivated after losing to New York in last year's conference final.

"I have some ill feelings when I think back at that game," said Kreis. "I have a bit of a sore spot in my stomach when I think about that game, and I hope the rest of the group does as well."

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com