This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sandy • Wednesday's game between Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC in the CONCACAF Champions League just became a lot more interesting.

While the defending MLS Cup champions are riding a 27-game home unbeaten streak in all competitions, the Reds come limping into Rio Tinto Stadium with a six-game winless streak and a new coach after firing coach Preki Radosavljevic and general manager Mo Johnston on Tuesday.

And that throws everything up in the air.

"We are going to have no idea what they're going to do," coach Jason Kreis said.

That's because while the RSL players and coaches expect that the Reds will respond passionately to make a good impression and perhaps attempt to prove their coach was the problem all along — "they're going to come out flying," general manager Garth Lagerwey predicted — none of them can be sure what to expect from interim coach Nick Dasovic.

Will the new coach prefer different tactics or a new lineup? Will he opt to charge ahead for Champions League success, or sit back so he can focus his team on its dwindling Major League Soccer playoff chances?

Nobody will know for sure, until tonight.

In any case, the game is a big one for RSL, which desperately wants to advance to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

It figures it needs at least nine points from its six group games to do that, and it already won its first home game in the competition against Arabe Unido of Panama last month.

Another home victory would put the team in good position entering its final three group games, but a draw or loss probably would put it under pressure during its remaining road games at Arabe Unido and Toronto FC.

Kreis will have some lineup decisions to make, with a handful of players banged up for the first of six games in 18 days — including a return to MLS play against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Striker Fabian Espindola and midfielder Ned Grabavoy seem to be the least likely to make the lineup, though RSL has proven the quality of its depth time and again this season.

"We've always had a deep team," midfielder Will Johnson said. "The drop-off is minimal" between regulars and reserves. "Especially over short periods, guys can step up and, you know, you're so anxious that you want to get out there and you're so fresh — for a lot of these guys — that it really benefits the team."

mcl@sltrib.com Twitter: @RSLTribune —

Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC

P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff • 8 p.m.

TV • Fox Soccer Channel

Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM, 106.1 FM

Records in CCL • RSL 1-1-0, Toronto 1-1-0

Last meeting • RSL 0, Toronto 0 (Aug. 28, 2010)

About RSL • It's riding a 27-game unbeaten streak at home in all competitions, and forward Alvaro Saborio has scored four goals in the Champions League, ranking second in the tournament. … It beat Arabe Unido 2-1 at home but lost 5-4 at Cruz Azul in its previous Champions League games.

About the Reds • Playing their first game under interim coach Nick Dasovic, they are riding a six-game winless streak in MLS. … Forward Chad Barrett has scored two of their goals in Champions League, in which they have beaten Cruz Azul 2-1 at home but lost to Arabe Unido 1-0 on the road. —

CONCACAF Champions League

Group A standings

Team W L T Pts

Real Salt Lake 1 1 0 3

Arabe Unido 1 1 0 3

Cruz Azul 1 1 0 3

Toronto FC 1 1 0 3

Tonight

Arabe Unido vs. Cruz Azul, 8 p.m.

Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC, 8 p.m.

Sept. 21

Cruz Azul vs. Toronto FC, 8 p.m.

Sept. 22

Arabe Unido vs. Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28

Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m.

Cruz Azul vs. Arabe Unido, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19

Toronto FC. vs. Arabe Unido, 6 p.m.

Real Salt Lake vs. Cruz Azul, 8 p.m.