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Rapids-Real Salt Lake Preview

Sep 24, 2010 - 5:14 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (10-7-7) at Real Salt Lake (13-4-8), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Real Salt Lake stretched its home unbeaten streak to an MLS regular-season record 23 matches its last time out, but it needs at least a point Saturday night to claim the league's longest overall run.

It doesn't appear the club will have much difficulty getting one.

The Colorado Rapids haven't won away from home in nearly four months, and Salt Lake looks to take advantage as the Rocky Mountain Cup rivals meet for the first time this season.

RSL (13-4-8) needed one point last Saturday to exceed the 2008-09 Columbus Crew's league-record regular-season home unbeaten streak. The club got three thanks to Alvaro Saborio's penalty kick late in the first half of a 1-0 win.

"It's really cool," coach Jason Kreis said after his team's fifth straight shutout extended its stretch without conceding a goal to 532 minutes. "We put a lot of emphasis on it. We haven't shied away from how important it is to us as a club. Now we need to, at least for a few minutes, celebrate it."

Salt Lake hasn't lost at home since May 16, 2009, and its run is at 24 straight games with a point when last season's playoff win over Columbus is included.

The Crew's home streak was 24 with a pair of playoff victories added in, so RSL can also top that mark with at least a tie against Colorado (10-7-7).

Salt Lake certainly wants more than one point, however. The defending MLS Cup champion is chasing Los Angeles for the best record in the Western Conference, and it will be hosting a Rapids club that is 0-4-3 on the road since May 15.

Colorado's fine home form, though, has it in excellent shape to make its first playoff appearance since 2006. The Rapids, 7-1-4 at Dick's Park, are coming off a 3-0 home win over New England last Saturday.

"When you start off games like we have with the last three home games scoring quickly, goals seem to come easier, and it's definitely something you want to recreate every time you come out and play," forward Conor Casey said after scoring his third goal in four games and the 39th of his career, tying Paul Bravo for the most in team history.

With 10 goals, Casey is tied for the team lead with Omar Cummings, who has been on a hot streak of his own. The Jamaican striker has five goals and two assists in his last four contests.

Catching rival RSL for one of the West's two automatic playoff spots is unlikely, but the Rapids could earn the league's top wild-card spot.

Points won't be easy to come by with two remaining matches against Salt Lake, one of them the clubs' regular-season finale Oct. 23. RSL's unbeaten streak began June 6, 2009, against Colorado, though the team missed out on a chance for three points when Cummings' 88th-minute strike gave the Rapids a 1-all draw.

Despite Real's seemingly impenetrable defense, the club is having issues offensively. RSL has two goals in four games, and U.S. national team striker Robbie Findley hasn't scored in six league matches.