CARSON, Calif. -- Chivas USA has been in Real Salt Lake's position before. In 2006, Chivas USA played host to a playoff game for the first time, and the energy in the stands that day propelled the Red-and-White to a victory against a higher-seeded team.
Now, it is Chivas USA who is the higher seed and must play on the road against the energetic first-time playoff team, and that energy is what players say is important to squash early in Saturday's first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium.
"I know it's going to be a very difficult game for our team," right back Carey Talley said. "It's going to be a very emotional game for them from the standpoint that it's their first playoff game. It's going to be hectic and it's going to be crazy. We have to make sure that if anything we're disciplined as a team."
Real Salt Lake were toward the bottom of the Western Conference for much of their first three MLS seasons as the club posted a combined record of 21-50-23 entering the 2008 season. This year, the club enjoyed a turnaround campaign and finished with a 10-10-10 record.
The wait for a playoff spot has been long, but just as long was the wait for a new stadium. Rio Tinto Stadium opened in early October after years of speculation and debate. RSL has a draw and a victory in their two games there and now will have the opportunity to bring a playoff victory to their ardent supporters.
"The energy that their stadium is going to have for this game is going to be pretty big. It's certainly not going to be an easy game," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "We're going to have many things going against us. Obviously the crowd, I think the weather will be in their favor because it looks like it's going to be cold and we've never played at that stadium so we don't know what that's about. But we're going to go there and play well, try and get a lead and hold onto it."
In 2008, Real Salt Lake used their home turf to their advantage. The club lost just one game at home all season -- but that fact only seems to benefit Chivas USA. It was the Red-and-White who handed RSL their lone home loss, a 1-0 victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 20.
And although RSL also beat Chivas USA on their turf, the Red-and-White won the overall season series. Continued success against Real is nothing new to Chivas USA. The teams split their season series in 2005 as each team won at home twice but the Red-and-White has dominated since, having posted a 6-1-3 record since.
"Even though the series tilted in our favor, I still think they were three competitive games and I don't think you can take past years' history and apply it to what their team is about this year. They're obviously vastly improved," Marsch said. "Regardless of what happens in the regular season, the playoffs wind up being a whole new series. No matter who you play it's competitive and hard fought and a real battle. I don't think you have to throw out regular season results when it comes to playoffs."
When Saturday's game kicks off, the hosts will likely come out with energy and emotion, players said. If the club can survive the expected early blitz, Chivas USA said they would be fine.
"In most cases, what usually happens in these kinds of games is matching the intensity and then it comes down to who's a better soccer team," Talley said. "If the teams are at the same intensity, the better soccer team usually ends up winning. We've got to make sure that we come to play and that we, if anything, outwork them on their home field and we'll be in good shape if that's the case. We know emotions will be high, as they should be, and so will ours."
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