The Columbus Crew take their first step in
defending their MLS Cup championship when they travel to Utah to take on Real
Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in game one of their 2009 Eastern Conference
Semifinal Series on Saturday.
The Crew are the top seed in the Eastern bracket after winning the Supporters'
Shield for the second straight year while RSL just snuck into the playoffs on
the last day of the regular season for the second straight year. That doesn't
mean RSL isn't confident though.
"Our guys have to truly believe right now," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "I
feel like it has been such an effort to make it to the playoffs, what I'm wary
of is kind of everybody taking a breath and going, 'Ahh, we're here.' For me,
that's not good enough, because honestly, in my mind - and I'm not just saying
this to say it - I feel like we have a team that can beat anybody on a given
day. So we have to believe."
RSL also has been a much better team at home then on the road, posting a 9-1-5
record at Rio Tinto Stadium this season.
"It's nice to have the comfort of our own home in the first game," Kreis said.
"Hopefully, we'll get out there and put a marker out there to show Columbus
what it's going to take when we go back to their place."
Columbus is hoping that it can correct its current form that saw it close the
regular season with back-to-back home losses in which is was shut out in both
games.
"It's not panic mode or anything," Crew forward Steven Lenhart said. "We have
a ton of experienced guys. It's good to get it out of our system now."
The team hasn't been playing for anything for weeks now after building a
comfortable lead in the standings, meaning it is imperative that it flips the
switch early.
"We're not taking the momentum into the playoffs that we'd like to, but we're
capable of beating anyone," Crew midfielder Adam Moffat said.
Both teams are relatively healthy, with Columbus center back Chad Marshall and
RSL midfielders Kyle Beckerman, Nelson Gonzalez and Ned Grabavoy, and forward
Robbie Findley the only names on the injury reports. All are listed as
probable for Saturday's game.
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