Real Salt Lake's defense is needed

It's tough to survive in Major League Soccer without locking down an opponent from time to time and earning a few shutouts.

A year ago, Real Salt Lake recorded eight clean sheets en route to the club's first-ever playoff appearance. Four games into the 2009 season, though, RSL is still in search of its first shutout, having allowed a goal in the first half of each of its first four games.

With unbeaten New England in town for tonight's 7 P.M. kickoff at Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL knows this would be a good opportunity to reverse the early trend.

"I think overall we just need to be better about defending during all points of the game and not losing focus, not losing concentration," said defender Nat Borchers. "The best defenses in the world are the ones who are consistently on the same page with one another and are able to snuff out any half chances and any dangerous chances early."

For the most part, Borchers believes RSL has been very good defensively, but he admits a few early mistakes have been costly. Most of those costly mistakes have been on the road, something the club must address in coming weeks.

Tonight RSL is in the friendly comforts of Rio Tinto Stadium, where the team has taken the maximum six points in its first two games. It's unrealistic to expect a 15-0 home record this year, but at this point Kreis expects perfection.

"I don't think I've made any qualms about what I believe — you have to win every home game. You don't win and that's considered, for me, a failure," said Kreis.

He knows, however, that beating the Revolution won't be an easy task. They're unbeaten in three road games so far, and only a 90th-minute goal last weekend at D.C. United prevented them from escaping with the 1-0 victory.

"The one thing they do differently than a lot of teams that play road games is it's a pretty confident group in how they play on the road," said Kreis.

That approach has been successful in Utah, where the Revolution has posted a 2-1-1 record, but that lone loss occurred last year at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Both teams should be pretty motivated tonight — New England for letting points slip away late at D.C. United, and RSL for a disappointing showing in a 2-0 loss at New York last weekend.