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Sandy • Jeff Cassar saw a similar theme unfold for each Major League Soccer participant. Around the 60th to 65th minute in each CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal opener last week, legs became a little heavy, less pressure was being put on opponents and it became clear that fatigue was settling in.

It's a battle Real Salt Lake, L.A. Galaxy, D.C. United and Seattle Sounders continue to deal with, said RSL's head coach, as MLS teams returning to the Champions League knockout round do so on the heels of just a month of preseason preparation.

"Then, in the 70th [minute], every team was under it," Cassar said. "L.A., Seattle and D.C. all did very, very well in the first half, created some opportunities, but [the MLS teams] really started to fatigue. We started to, but we also really rallied around each other and covered for each other."

Following its first home training session of the year Saturday morning at America First Field in Sandy, Cassar said RSL will have to find a way to maneuver around the lack of full 90-minute fitness if it wants a shot at advancing to the Champions League final. Following the 2-0 loss at Tigres UANL Wednesday in Mexico, RSL needs at least a 2-0 win in regulation time to send the quarterfinal series to extra time.

"If we're right there winning 1-0 or 2-0, guys don't get tired then," he said. "They won't be fatigued."

Right back Tony Beltran, the most-fit player on the club annually, said the long-awaited arrival of the first leg played a role in holding Tigres at bay for the first 67 minutes before José Rivas' header broke the deadlock.

"I could've ran around for three more hours," Beltran said. "But I do think there is a little bit of fatigue just because we worked hard in preseason, but there's nothing like competitive game fitness."

Midfielder Mulholland bouncing back

Two weeks after pulling his quadriceps in Tucson, Ariz., midfielder Luke Mulholland provided perspective for himself. A full-time starter the past two seasons at RSL, Mulholland helped his club qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals and circled the first leg at Tigres as another career benchmark.

It wouldn't happen. The quad pull kept him out.

"I was definitely down in the dumps the first few days," he said. "In the soccer world, those injuries come and go. It's all about how you respond with them."

The 27-year-old entering his third season at RSL played in the 50-minute scrimmage against Real Monarchs Saturday in Sandy, showing his progression from the injury.

"I'm confident I can be available and be a positive impact to the game on Wednesday," Mulholland said.

Sóbis and Torres Nilo out for Leg 2

RSL caught a break in the first leg when Mexico star winger Javier Aquino was held out due to a bout of tendinitis in his leg. While he may return for Wednesday's match at Rio Tinto Stadium, Tigres will be without regulars Rafael Sóbis and Jorge Torres Nilo, both of whom will be suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation.

Sóbis, the 30-year-old Brazilian, assisted on Tigres' first goal and fired the shot that deflected off Kyle Beckerman, earning a penalty kick.

"He was everywhere. He's a quality player," Beltran said. "It'll be interesting to see who kind of moves the ball and takes control of the game for them."

With Torres Nilo out, Cassar said he expects Rivas to shift to left back and possibly see the return of injured center back Hugo Ayala for the second leg.

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL

P CONCACAF Champions League two-leg quarterfinal series

Leg 1 • Tigres UANL 2, RSL 0

Leg 2 • Wednesday, March 2, 8 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium

TV • FOX Sports 2

Radio • 700 AM