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Sandy • Amid all the consternation over his team's inability to score over the past few weeks, coach Jason Kreis was asked after practice the other day about his amazing Real Salt Lake defense, on pace to allow … what, like a dozen goals for the whole season?

"Our goal is eight," he said.

Of course, he was joking.

But that's almost precisely the number RSL would allow if it keeps shutting down opponents at its current mind-blowing rate.

While the team has scored just once in its past four games heading into its meeting with the Seattle Sounders at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night, it has allowed just two goals — two — in the first eight games of its Major League Soccer season.

"The stats speak for themselves," goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "Right now, we're doing great, defensively. We just have to start clicking on the offensive side."

That won't be easy, with Kreis facing all kinds of lineup questions.

Fabián Espíndola is the only experienced forward who's healthy and available after missing four games — Álvaro Saborío and Arturo Álvarez are away on international duty, preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup — and the midfield is still trying to figure out how to excel without injured Javier Morales.

But the back line?

It has been lights out all season, on the heels of its record-breaking performance last year, when it allowed only 20 goals in 30 games. The season has grown to 34 games this year, meaning RSL would allow an unbelievable 8.5 goals — mathematically speaking — if it keeps up its current rate.

"It can't be possible, I don't think," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "We're going to give up goals. Just hopefully on those days that we do give up goals, we're able to score some goals."

That hasn't been much of an issue yet.

The team hasn't allowed a goal in the past 338 minutes, and only one in the past 551 minutes, having played back-to-back scoreless draws for the first time since after Kreis became coach in 2007. It's trying to get back on the board for the first time since the 87th minute of a home victory over Chivas USA three weeks ago.

"There's two sides to the game — with the ball, and without," Kreis said. "Right now, without, we're doing all the stuff that's necessary. And with the ball, we need to be a little better."

The Sounders might offer an opportunity, since they're coming off a 1-0 mid-week loss to FC Dallas and playing without injured striker Steve Zakuani, who had his leg broken by a horrific and controversial tackle by Colorado's Brian Mullan barely two weeks before Morales was cut down during the Chivas game.

What's more, coach Sigi Schmid criticized forward Fredy Montero after the loss to FC Dallas, saying he "needs to score. End of story." The Sounders fired off 19 shots against the Hoops but couldn't find the net, and managed just two goals and four points during a disappointing three-game homestand.

But the RSL players have warned that the Sounders are still dangerous, and they must remain vigilant if they want to extend their 29-game home unbeaten streak in league play.

"I do think that we're going to need to continue to focus on how well we defend as an entire team," Kreis said. "It doesn't come down to the back four and the goalkeeper — although I'll tell you, over the past few weeks, those guys have all made a lot of really, really nice plays." —

Tough defense

No Major League Soccer team has allowed fewer goals than RSL:

Team Games GA GAA

Real Salt Lake 8 2 0.25

Philadelphia 10 7 0.70

FC Dallas 12 10 0.83

Los Angeles 14 12 0.86

New York 11 10 0.91

Seattle 13 12 0.92

Columbus 10 10 1.00

Chivas USA 10 10 1.00

Colorado 12 12 1.00 —

Help wanted

Forward Artur Aghasyan signed with Real Salt Lake on Friday, as it seeks immediate help for its depleted attack. The 23-year-old Armenian is a cousin of former RSL striker Yura Movsisyan, and played both for and against RSL during the 2009 preseason. The team liked him then, but was well-stocked with strikers. That's not the case now, as almost all of the forwards are injured or away on international duty. To make room for Aghasyan, the team released forward Conor Chinn, whom it wanted to patiently develop. But "we need somebody we think can contribute right now," coach Jason Kreis said. —

Seattle at RSL

P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff • Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV • None

Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM, 106.1 FM

Records • RSL 5-1-2, Seattle 4-4-5

All-Time Series • Tied, 1-1-2

Last Meeting • RSL 0, Seattle 0 (Sept. 9, 2010)

About RSL • It's coming off back-to-back scoreless draws for the first time in four years. … It has won 13 straight games when leading at halftime, and 11 in a row when scoring first. … Midfielder Collen Warner is expected to play, despite suffering ankle and shoulder injuries in a scoreless draw at FC Dallas last weekend. … Forward Artur Aghasyan could make his debut, after signing with the team Friday. … Goalkeeper Nick Rimando is riding a 338-minute shutout streak, and has five shutouts this year.

About the Sounders • They're coming off a 1-0 home loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday night. … Midfielder Brad Evans leads the team with four goals, but is questionable with an strained adductor muscle, while forwards Steve Zakuani and O'Brian White are out with leg injuries. … They're 1-2-3 on the road, have scored six goals and allowed seven. … Goalkeeper Kasey Keller has a 0.92 goals-against average.