This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

This past spring, Real Salt Lake just missed a bit of history by nearly becoming the first Major League Soccer team to secure a place in the CONCACAF Champions League Club World Cup.

The quickest way back would be a successful 2011 U.S. Open Cup run.

Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL opens the round of 16 against the USL's Wilmington Hammerheads.

RSL might actually field an experienced striker force Tuesday, thanks to the improving health of Alvaro Saborio, who started Saturday, and Arturo Alvarez. It will be Real's fourth game in 11 days.

"Guys are having to play different positions but we just have to get on with it," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "There's a bunch of games [coming up] and you can't really complain because nobody really cares. There's another game on the schedule, and you have to play it. If we play with a couple midfielders up top, so be it. We have to be able and try to score some goals."

For the first time in club history, Real Salt Lake enters the 2011 competition as one of six automatic MLS qualifiers. The Open Cup is an annual, single-elimination competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for July 12 and the 13, followed by the semifinals in late August. The Final is in October. —

Wilmington Hammerheads at RSL

P At Rio Tinto Stadium

Kickoff • 7 p.m.

Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM

Records • Wilmington 5-4-3 (USL), RSL 7-3-5

About Wilmington • The Hammerheads are coming off a 2-0 loss Friday to Charleston and are in the midst of a three-game winless stretch. … Wilmington is tied for sixth in the USL's American Division. … They are led by forward Chris Banks and midfielder Luke Mullholland, who have four goals apiece this season.

About RSL • The team finally rediscovered its offense in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Toronto. Not coincidentally, struggling forward Alvaro Saborio also broke out, scoring a pair of goals. … After Tuesday's game, RSL will be off until Monday, when it will play host to New England in a Fourth of July contest. That game starts at 6:30 p.m.