Rapids-Real Salt Lake Preview

Real Salt Lake has made a habit of not losing games early in a season. That's also been the case whenever the Colorado Rapids visit Utah.

Salt Lake looks to extend its home unbeaten streak in this series to 13 on Saturday night while also trying to open without a loss in its first five matches for the third consecutive year.

RSL began the 2014 season with a 6-0-6 record, opened 2-0-3 last year and has gone 2-0-2 thus far despite playing three times on the road. It won 2-1 last Saturday at Sporting Kansas City, which entered with one goal allowed in winning its first three games.

The victory was a confidence-builder as Salt Lake was without goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Javier Morales because of injuries, while midfielder Kyle Beckerman, defender Jamison Olave and forward Juan Manuel Martinez missed the match due to suspensions.

"I don't think I learned something. I think maybe the guys really learned something about themselves and this group," coach Jeff Cassar told RSL's official website. "We believe in all of our players. This kind of result in this scenario doesn't make me believe any more, but I think it can help the players really believe in themselves and believe in their abilities and really believe in each other."

Defender Justen Glad scored his first career goal on an assist from forward Joao Plata, who leads Salt Lake with three goals and three assists. Plata had four goals and four assists in 19 matches last season.

"It's a good stepping stone, obviously," Glad said. "It's a big confidence booster, obviously, to come in and get the goal. We'll take it going forward. We'll take the points and we'll improve everything that we need to improve on."

RSL has done a good job of taking points at home against the Rapids, going 8-0-4 in the last 12 matchups with a scoring advantage of 21-5.

"I think a lot of it has to do with psychology before the game even starts," Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "You go into our rival's home where they have large crowds and you get there and you're a bit nervous. ... I think this is going to be a different game this year."

Colorado enters with just three goals through four games, but it has allowed a league-low two in going 2-1-1.

Forward Luis Solignac scored his first MLS goal in the 18th minute last Saturday as the Rapids beat visiting Toronto FC 1-0.

Midfielder Marco Pappa has played a part in all three of Colorado's goals, scoring one and assisting on two. Pappa has five goals in his last four games against RSL.

"The belief that we'll find a way to get a result has been really, really good," Mastroeni said. " ... It's going to be a great matchup for us and one that I feel if we compete well we can grab some points."