Down by two goals and on the verge of entering stoppage time, RSL was looking squarely at its third consecutive defeat.

But on the heels of a bizarre week that included a change in coaches, RSL staged an unbelievable comeback to force a tie with Major League Soccer's best team.

When does a tie feel like a win? It did Saturday, as Chris Brown's crackling score in extra time at Rice-Eccles Stadium salvaged a 3-3 tie before 14,789 wet but happy fans.

Coming into the game, the New York Red Bulls (3-0-2) hadn't given up a single league goal.

While it is difficult to say how Real Salt Lake's effort against the Red Bulls will play out, especially with five of its next six opponents on the road, newly-minted coach Jason Kreis seeks all the positives he can muster.

"That's an interesting thing," Kreis said. "We tied the first game of the year and we all walked away from here as if we had lost. Now we tied this game and we're feeling we had won. To be honest, we should. When you come back from a two-goal deficit, it's a huge boost for everyone mentally."

Although Kreis blamed himself and faulty tactical errors for RSL's 2-0 halftime deficit, his player moves were gold. Although forward Atiba Harris, starting for the first time this season, didn't score, he was active.

His partner, Jeff Cunningham, created a few opportunities and finally scored on a penalty kick in the 90th minute after teammate Carey Talley was knocked to the turf inside the 18-yard box trying to head the ball toward goal. Cunningham's goal pulled RSL to within 3-2.

"This was the best team effort I've seen from the club in quite a good while," Cunningham said. "I was off tonight, chances I usually finish, I didn't. But the other guys stepped up. I don't know what I would have done with myself if we didn't get a point tonight."

Then there was the Brown substitution in the 63rd minute. Kreis rewarded Brown's excellent play during preseason and with the reserves with a spot on the bench.

The attacking midfielder paid his coach back in full with a goal that was as spectacular as it was surprising. Partly created by a pass from Freddy Adu - who scored his first point for RSL - Brown looked to pass out of the 18-yard box.

Seeing his defender had overplayed to the left, Brown wheeled, found an opening and rattled a shot off the post and into the net. RSL was still fighting at the final whistle.

"I felt like I had been playing well and deserved a shot," Brown said. "It was nice of Jason to give me a chance. It all happened in slow motion."

Then, there was New York's Clint Mathis, a shadowy specter from Real Salt Lake's short past, pouring salt in the wound by pounding home the Red Bulls' second goal in the 28th minute and the third in the 83rd.

Mathis also assisted on New York's first goal, by Dane Richards in the 12th minute. Richards took advantage of a good bounce and confused hesitation by RSL's rookie goalie, Chris Seitz.

Real Salt Lake, using two forwards in Kreis' change from former coach John Ellinger's 4-5-1 formation, had its share of dangerous moments, but it wasn't until the 61st minute that RSL broke a scoreless streak of 369 minutes.

Midfielder Chris Klein's beautiful, curling shot from 26 yards out pulled Salt Lake within 2-1. Klein's fist-pumping fired up RSL throughout the second half, but Mathis' second goal seemed to doom RSL to another loss.

"This was step one," Kreis said. "Get our mental attitude right."

martyr@sltrib.com

* RSL ties New York with two goals in the final minutes of play, including Chris Brown's tying effort in stoppage time.

* Chris Klein's goal in the 61st minute halts an RSL scoreless streak of 369 minutes.

* The Red Bulls hadn't given up a league goal all season.