Font ResizeSandy » It worked once, so Real Salt Lake will try it again.
Just like last week, the team will leave early for its game against the Chicago Fire in the MLS Eastern Conference final, departing Wednesday for the game at Toyota Park in suburban Chicago on Saturday night.
"We'll stick with what works," coach Jason Kreis said.
The team left early before its game at Columbus in the first round of the playoffs last weekend, and wound up with a stunning 3-2 comeback victory that earned it a date with the Fire.
It even stayed in a different hotel than usual, though Kreis said that was mostly an effort to house the players in a vibrant part of town, so they would have things to do to avoid getting bored during their extended stay. Same goes for Chicago. The team will stay amid the hustle and bustle of downtown, rather than out in the suburbs.
The superstition has a limit, however.
Kreis acknowledged he won't wear the same clothes he wore during the victory over the Crew. "I won't go that far," he said.
Injury report
Defender Tony Beltran has not practiced fully this week while nursing the sore quadriceps muscle that kept him out of the game against the Crew last weekend.
But Kreis said he's hoping the second-year outside back will be healthy by midweek and available against the Fire.
Maybe next time
But Kreis doubts his star scorer has any mixed feelings.
"If this was the middle of the season, I would think he would have mixed feelings, for sure," Kreis acknowledged. "But when it comes to playoffs? When it comes to a guy like Robbie Findley? I got no doubts he's 100 percent with us."
Findley earned his first cap over the summer during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Americans qualified, and will play Slovakia and Denmark on Nov. 14 and 18, as part of their preparation.
