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Can one care too much?

Every Real Salt Lake player was mentally out, slumped over or sitting dazed on the Rio Tinto Stadium grass watching as Monterrey celebrated its Champions League victory earlier this season.

Fabián Espíndola was inconsolable.

The 1-0 defeat was more than a momentary setback for Espíndola. For the next week, the RSL striker could do nothing but think of what he could have done differently to change to outcome.

"Hell yeah," said the 26-year-old Argentine. "All night long I couldn't sleep. Three, four days I couldn't leave my home, thinking of that game. 'What could you do?' "

Espíndola was so distraught that he did not make the team's next trip to Portland. That's what Espíndola brings to Real Salt Lake, hunger to win that is deep-rooted.

"He's passionate about winning," said RSL coach Jason Kreis, who also cautions that sometimes that desire can be a double-edged sword. "That's a mentality Americans … are not used to. To them, soccer is not life and death."

Espíndola's intensity has translated into seven goals so far this season, which ties for the team lead with Álvaro Saborío. He has also taken on his share of battles against defenders, his long shoulder-length black hair flying wildly while he fights for loose balls in corners.

It's a style that teammates embrace, and it leaves the opposition muttering invectives.

"He's emotional," RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "Every game he gives everything he's got."

To Espíndola, who relies on his lethal left foot, soccer is more than a game. While a child in tiny Villa de Merlo, located in the northeastern zone of the San Luis province of Argentina, Espíndola learned that soccer was a way to the next economic level. That's where Espíndola learned that to not give everything toward success was not acceptable.

And that's why the CONCACAF loss bit so deep.

"It hurt a lot," he said. "For me, my career and for the team. It was huge. We were so close and lost a huge opportunity."

Since then, Espíndola has remained a constant in RSL's ever-changing lineup, which has been shuffled by injuries and national team call-ups.

On July 4, his goal in the 83rd minute salvaged a come-from-behind tie 3-3 with New England.

Though not as fast as former RSL forward Robbie Findley or as physical as other forwards, Espíndola can, in the soccer language, skin an opponent.

"Fabián has got something in him, something he grew up with, in his DNA," Beckerman said. "He can take on a defender straight up and get by him. He's able to beat two and three guys on a constant basis. You can't teach that to people. You've either got it or you don't."

After playing professional for several seasons, including a stint with legendary Argentine team Boca Juniors, Espíndola first came to RSL in 2007, the same time as current RSL midfielder Javier Morales.

Espíndola scored his first MLS goal against Kansas City. Eventually, RSL decided not to buy out his contract and Espíndola was released to play for Venezuelan team Deportivo Anzoategui.

After scoring three times in five games, Deportivo Anzoategui returned to RSL in early 2009 and became part of Real's MLS Cup winners.

But it's been this season that Espíndola has become a consistent starter.

Kreis' challenge has been keeping the positive side of Espíndola's passionate nature pointed in the right direction.

"He's done really well in the starting role," Kreis said. "The only thing … sometimes he's put too much pressure on himself. That comes with [the frustration] of being looked at week in and week out. He's not used to that."

Espíndola's expects to raise another MLS Cup.

"The team is getting back to that [CONCACAF] level," he said. "At Real, we fight for everything." —

Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders FC

P At CenturyLink Field, Seattle

Kickoff • 2 p.m. MDT

TV • KMYU 2.2 / Comcast 22 / Dish 12

Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM

Records • Seattle 13-5-9, RSL 12-7-6

All-time series • Sounders, 2-1-5

Last meeting • Sounders, 2-1 (May 28)

About the Sounders • They extended their MLS unbeaten streak to four games in their last match, a club-record 6-2 victory against the Columbus Crew.

About RSL • Real Salt Lake won its second consecutive game, 2-1, against Philadelphia. … Álvaro Saborío leads RSL with three game-winning goals. … Defender Nat Borchers returns following a one-game red card suspension.