With Columbus coming up short (or getting robbed, depending on your perspective), Real Salt Lake is the next MLS club with a shot at breaking the Mexican O-fer when they face Cruz Azul in Mexico City tonight (8PM ET, FSC). After being burned so many times, it would be foolish to feel confident about their chances; nevertheless, RSL is carrying the MLS banner into Estadio Azul, and it's important that they put in a strong showing.


A point would be a bonus. Three might signal the end of the world and set off an explosion of articles declaring that balance of league power in CONCACAF is shifting (not that it would be true, necessarily). Simply taking the Los Cementaros down to the wire and giving them an epic fight, as Columbus did in their loss last night, would be a step in the right direction. If if it's not RSL that stops the streak, playing Cruz Azul evenly for ninety minutes would be more evidence that the breakthrough is coming. The better the MLS reputation in Mexico, the more evenly the league can compete in the region for talent.


RSL are the defending league champions. No offense to Columbus, last year's Supporters Shield winners and more rightly the league's best representative, but what the champions do matters most; when MLS and Primera fans who didn't watch the game see the score tomorrow morning, their perception will be influenced by RSL's title. If RSL lays down and is run over in the difficult environment of Mexico City, it will only reinforce the belief that MLS is a weak league that won't be challenging Mexican club dominance in the region anytime soon. But if RSL manages a draw, a win, or goes down at the death on a fortuitous break for Cruz Azul (which we can only hope won't be referee-aided), the reputation of MLS will suffer much less.


So no pressure on Kreis and company. I know that the traveling squad was essentially a full-strength one, but I have no inkling of what team he will send out. Will he go the route of Warzycha and rely on a B-side to fight for a point with the league schedule headed for crunch time? Or will he go all out and flex the Lakers considerable muscle despite the uphill battle ahead?


Because it will be uphill. Even if RSL is lucky enough to avoid the type of questionable officiating that infected the Crew and TFC matches, they'll be facing a Cruz Azul team looking to make amends for their loss to TFC last week in a difficult environment (though I'm guessing their won't be a large hostile crowd).


I'm sure I'll feel like a masochist when I sit down in front of the television tonight to watch RSL, a team I'm rather fond of, take the field in Mexico. Last night's events will be fresh in my mind as I hope against hope that the MLS champions make some headway in the battle for respect.