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Toronto FC-Real Salt Lake Preview

Jun 26, 2009 - 8:31 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Toronto FC (6-5-4) at Real Salt Lake (4-6-4), 9:30 p.m. EDT

Toronto FC is gaining confidence after winning three consecutive games, including their first championship. Toronto will try to carry some of that momentum onto the road and take sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead Saturday night when it visits Real Salt Lake.

Less than a month ago, Toronto (6-5-4) lost three games in a row, including a 2-0 defeat at Vancouver of the United Soccer Leagues during the Canadian Championship on June 2. The club, though, followed that stretch up by beating last-place New York 2-1 on June 6, then winning 6-1 at Montreal five days later to claim its first Canadian title and earn a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, which starts next month.

TFC avoided a letdown Wednesday, returning to league play with a 2-0 home win over the Red Bulls.

"My team talk was about cup hangovers," TFC interim coach Chris Cummins said. "I think people thought we might have a cup hangover and not perform. I was very conscious of that. It's given us loads of confidence. Nobody thought we'd go up to Montreal and get the four goals, let alone six."

The consecutive MLS wins have moved Toronto into second place in the East, one point behind idle D.C.

Toronto, though, is on a four-game road winless streak (0-2-2) since opening the season with a 3-2 victory at Kansas City on March 21. The team plays nine of its next 12 games away from BMO Field.

"Everybody knows how funny this league is and whenever teams travel they always seem to struggle," TFC defender Jim Brennan told the team's official Web site. "We're going to be looking for a win at Salt Lake. We want to get something out of the game.

"We've got a good momentum after beating New York twice. We've got some tough road trips coming up in the second half of the season but we have to stick together and work hard to get something out of them."

Dwayne De Rosario has been a big part of Toronto's recent success, finding the back of the net Wednesday after getting a hat trick against Montreal. The midfielder is tied with Amado Guevara with a team-high five goals in MLS play.

Toronto holds a 2-1-1 advantage in the all-time series with Salt Lake (4-6-4). The clubs split two meetings last year with each winning at home.

RSL is 1-0-2 since a six-game winless streak (0-4-2). However, the club settled for a 1-all tie at West-leading Houston last Saturday, when it allowed the tying goal with a minute left to play.

"I think it's somewhat bittersweet," coach Jason Kreis said. "I feel like we deserved three points, and if we had been able to keep 11 players on the field, I am quite certain we would have come away with all three."

Salt Lake will try to withstand the absence of defender Jamison Olave, who was issued a red card in the 58th minute against the Dynamo.

The team is also dealing with injuries to forwards Robbie Findley (right ankle sprain) and Fabian Espindola (right patella tendinitis), who are both questionable for this contest.

Findley, Salt Lake's leader with six goals, has missed the last two games. He's scored once in four career games against Toronto.

Espindola played through his injury and netted his first goal of the season last Saturday, but has been downgraded this week.