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It required a long trip to get there, so Real Salt Lake wants to make the most of its CONCACAF Champions League game against Arabe Unido in Panama tonight.
"We're going down there to get three points," midfielder Ned Grabavoy said.
The defending Major League Soccer champions traveled about 13 hours for the game, and can virtually assure their qualification for the tournament's knockout rounds with a victory. Tonight's game is the fourth of six group-stage games, and wrapping things up early would allow them the chance to train their focus on the race for the Supporters Shield regular-season title in Major League Soccer.
"Our mindset is to wrap this up — wrap this first round up — as soon as possible, which I think we have a fantastic opportunity to do," coach Jason Kreis said. "We'll go full-bore for that."
The coach already has one eye on his league game with the rival Colorado Rapids on Saturday, having left a handful of key players back in Salt Lake City to get some rest after a grueling portion of the schedule. Midfielder Javier Morales and Andy Williams did not make the trip, along with defenders Nat Borchers and Chris Wingert. But the rest of the regulars did — and RSL already has proven the quality of its depth this season. Its recent league draw at Seattle showed that as much as anything, with central defender Chris Schuler in particular filling in admirably for a suspended Jamison Olave.
"In our minds, there are guys who are going to step in and be just as good" as the regulars, midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "It's encouraging to see. … We're confident in those guys."
Warm conditions and scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight at Estadio Rommel Fernandez, where the game has been relocated because Arabe Unido's home ground does not meet CONCACAF standards.
But RSL is not necessarily expecting the same kind of time-wasting flop-fest it endured during its 2-1 victory against Arabe Unido at home last month.
"If we score before they do, or if we keep them from scoring a goal, then they can't do that," Beckerman said. "The big thing is just don't go behind. … As soon as you go behind, those antics start to happen."
Real Salt Lake at Arabe Unido
P At Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama City
Kickoff • Today, 6 p.m. MDT
TV • Fox Soccer Channel (9 p.m. tape)
Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM, 106.1 FM
Records in CCL • RSL 2-1-0, Arabe Unido 1-2-0
All-time series • RSL leads 1-0-0
Last meeting • RSL 2, Arabe Unido 1 (Aug. 18, 2010)
About RSL • It's unbeaten in its last five games in all competitions, and 11 of the last 12. … Forward Alvaro Saborio has scored five goals in three Champions League games, three of them from the penalty spot. … It's trying to improve on a 4-19-9 record for MLS teams playing in Central America.
About Arabe Unido • It's coming off a 6-0 home loss to Mexico's Cruz Azul in its last Champions League game last week. … Forward Fidel Caesar and midfielder Armando Cooper have scored their only two goals in Champions League. —
CONCACAF Champions League standings
Group A
Team W L T GF GA
Cruz Azul 2 1 1 12 6
Real Salt Lake 2 1 0 10 7
Toronto FC 1 2 1 3 6
Arabe Unido 1 2 0 2 8
Top two teams advance to knockout rounds.