Which team will lose at home first, Real Salt Lake or Toronto FC?
Home, sweet home. That's been the mantra for two MLS teams this year, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, both of whom are still undefeated on home turf this season.
In fact, their undefeated runs stretch beyond this season. RSL have not lost at Rio Tinto Stadium since May 16, 2009, a stretch of more than 21 games in regular season play. That's good for the second-longest home unbeaten streak in MLS history; the Columbus Crew went 22 games undefeated at Crew Stadium in 2008 and 2009.
During their current stretch, RSL have posted a 14-0-7 record. In the 11 games at home this season, they are 8-0-3, scoring 26 goals and conceding only 6.
TFC's last regular-season loss at BMO Field was June 6, 2009, when they fell 2-1 to the LA Galaxy. They have since gone unbeaten in 17 games on the banks of Lake Ontario. And while they have not been lighting up the scoreboard at the same rate as RSL, TFC have posted a respectable 6-0-4 record at home this season, notching 14 goals and allowing merely 5.
TFC's home MLS record will be tested mightily this coming Saturday when the 2nd-place New York Red Bulls come to town. If the Reds can survive, they will have an even sterner test the following weekend: Yep, Real Salt Lake are at BMO Field on Saturday, August 28.
Ah, fate.
