Before the beginning of every match Real Salt Lake plays, coach Jason Kreis writes three zeroes on an easel for all the players to see.
The point: Play the game like it is the first game of the season.
It is a good motivator for a team that has so few victories this year -- best to forget how things have gone wrong and focus on moving forward. It certainly has helped since Real's two midseason international friendlies, a turning point in the season for RSL after which Kreis began the triple-zero practice.
Since then, Real have gone 3-3, including wins in their last two matches. But although victories against Kansas City and the LA Galaxy would certainly motivate the team, RSL still means to forget the past and go forward.
"We have to play every game like it was the first game of the season, and to forget about past results," forward Alecko Eskandarian said. "That has given us a lot of confidence."
To be sure, Real feel relaxed and confident with a pair of wins to build on, even if they do intend mentally to start all over again when they face Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Saturday.
"We feel good. It's always very tough going on the road, and we have a tough stretch of games coming up here," Eskandarian said. "But we are feeling good. We're feeling proud of what we have accomplished."
Real's last two victories helped them climb out of last place in the Western Conference, where they remained buried since the beginning of the season.
Now at 4-11-6, Real has more points than the worst-ever team in league history, the Tampa Bay Mutiny incarnation of 2001 that went 4-21-2. Real also is tied with the second-worst team in league history, the Chivas USA team of 2005 that went 4-22-6. And with nine games left to play, Real are sure to get a few more points and put to bed the notion they could be worst team in league history.
Eskandarian has been with the team for two months, and in that time was sure Real could turn the corner on their season.
"I kept saying how much this team has improved and how hard the team is working," Eskandarian said. "It's nice to see the hard work paying off."
One of Real's victories this season came against Dynamo, a 1-0 result on August 4 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Houston had the best record in the league going into that match, and this time Dynamo sit on top of the Western Conference. But, with a win against Houston already, Real must have an added measure of confidence in the match.
Even more so, considering Houston's long list of injuries. Brad Davis and Paul Dalglish are out; Brian Ching, Craig Waibel and Chris Wondolowski are doubtful; and Stuart Holden and Corey Ashe are questionable.
"They are going to want to come out and make a statement," Eskandarian said. "It's definitely doable, and we can [beat Houston] again if we play our game. We'll take every advantage we can get."
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
