SANDY -- After three weeks of relentless travel and matches, Real Salt Lake had something of a normal week.
Tonight, however, will be far from a normal match for the Utah-based Major League Soccer side.
With a chance at history there for the taking, Real must overcome one of the MLS's star-studded teams.
Legendary French international Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel will lead the New York Red Bulls into Real Salt Lake's fortress-like home of Rio Tinto Stadium tonight at 7 p.m.
RSL is unbeaten in 21 consecutive home matches and can equal the league's all-time home unbeaten streak with a result against New York. Add in the fact that both teams are well within striking distance of the Supporter's Shield, and it's easy to see why both sides are eagerly awaiting the showdown.
"We're in a good spot. We've put ourselves in a good position. We've got 40 points with eight games to go and last year we won the MLS Cup with 40 points, so we're definitely in a much better spot than we were last year,"
RSL midfielder Will Johnson said. "At the same time, there's still a lot of room to grow; we're a few plays away from really being out front in this league."
Unfortunately for the home side, neither Johnson nor starting striker Alvaro Saborio will be with the team tonight as both were recalled by their respective countries for national team duty.
New York will also be missing several starters to national team duties, including central defender Rafael Marquez.
"At this time of the year, it's difficult to say to your fans and your ownership, 'by the way, we'll be missing these three fantastic players because they have to go represent their country,' " Real boss Jason Kreis said. "I would like to see the MLS fall in line with the rest of the world in that."
Missing players aside, every match looms large down the stretch run of the regular season, so don't expect either team to play conservative.
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