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Real Salt Lake looks to hand Revolution first loss

Apr 24, 2009 - 5:57 PM By Anthony Giornalista Stats Senior Writer

New England (2-0-2) at Real Salt Lake (2-2-0), 9:00 p.m. EDT

SANDY, Utah (AP) -- The New England Revolution have managed to remain undefeated despite a heavy road schedule. They'll face a challenge in playing at Rio Tinto Stadium, where Real Salt Lake has been tough to beat.

With starting goalkeeper Matt Reis perhaps ready to return, the Revolution look to hand Real its first home loss Saturday night.

New England (2-0-2) and Chicago are the only unbeaten teams in MLS. The Revolution are undefeated after four games for the second time in franchise history, as they started the 2005 season 7-0-4.

New England has been able to avoid a defeat even though it has played three of its four games on the road, going 1-0-2.

Brad Knighton made his third straight start in net for New England at D.C. on April 17, allowing a goal in the 90th minute of a 1-1 tie. He stopped seven shots and made several stunning saves in place of the injured Reis (knee).

Reis, who hasn't started since the season opener, is listed as questionable. He went 11-11-6 with a 1.38 goals-against average in 28 games last season.

Even with Reis out, the Revolution are tied with Seattle and Chivas USA for fewest goals allowed with three.

New England now heads to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time to face Salt Lake (2-2-0), which has outscored opponents 6-2 in winning its two games there this season. Salt Lake went 8-1-6 at home in 2008.

"That's kind of carrying over from last year," Real goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "We seem to come back at home when we were down."

Salt Lake lost its two road contests, the most recent a 2-0 defeat to New York last Saturday night.

Real continues to be hurt by poor first-half play. Four of the six goals scored against Salt Lake have come prior to the break.

"We've got to figure out a way to get these guys to come out and play in the first like they do in the second half," Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said. "Four games in a row, four bad first halves, four good second halves - if we figure out how to play 90 minutes, we'll be all right."

Real's back line was thin against the Red Bulls, with David Horst starting for Jamison Olave (knee) and Robbie Russel replacing Ian Joy (hamstring). Olave is expected to return Saturday, but Joy will be out a few more weeks.

New England started midfielder Steve Ralston for the first time this season in its matchup with D.C. The veteran missed two straight games with a strained right quadriceps before making his season debut April 4, coming on as a halftime substitute in a 2-1 win over FC Dallas.

Ralston had eight goals and seven assists in 21 games last season. One of his goals came in a 2-2 tie with Salt Lake on Sept. 4 as Real found the back of the net twice after the 76th minute.

Real won the teams' other meeting last year 2-1 on June 21.