Johnson, RSL stay hot at Fire's expense

Will Johnson knows from experience that a tough start to the season doesn't rule out a MLS Cup title.

His Real Salt Lake club got hot at the right time last year, defeating the Fire in the Eastern Conference championship game on its way to a league crown despite being the last team into the playoffs.

"It was fun," said the 23-year-old Johnson, a Woodridge native and Naperville North High School graduate. "It was a wild ride. It was a bit of a tough regular season. It tested our confidence and a lot of adversity, but when you overcome that over the course of the season, it really made for a special title."

RSL is one of the hottest teams in MLS this season, and the struggling Fire (4-5-5, 17 points) could do nothing to cool it off, losing 1-0 before 17,847 fans at Toyota Park.

"They're trying to get on a bit of a run, been up and down all season," Johnson said of the Fire club he signed with at age 18 before moving on. "They've got a lot of good players. I think they're just waiting to break out at the right time. Obviously, any time you bring in a new coach, some new pieces, it takes awhile to get going. But I think they're going to get there. They'll get it together at some point and make a run."

The visitors got the only goal they needed in the 40th minute. After defender C.J. Brown was called for a foul on RSL forward Robbie Findley in the penalty area, Findley buried a penalty kick for the game-winning goal.

It was a call Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos called "a mistake" after "normal contact."

The Fire defense played well otherwise despite starting two rookies. Kwame Watson-Siriboe started next to Brown in the middle, while Steven Kinney earned his first MLS playing time at right back because of injuries to Dasan Robinson and Tim Ward.

Kinney nearly made his mark offensively also. His 48th-minute header off a Mike Banner corner kick hit the right post and bounced away. His 57th-minute header was saved off the line by RSL's Andy Williams and then hit the right post.

"I'm very happy with Steve," de los Cobos said. "He showed a very strong personality."

"They just wouldn't fall in," Kinney said of his headers. "But it was good getting out there. Just kind of frustrating that they wouldn't fall for us tonight."

Meanwhile, another strong season continues for RSL (9-3-3, 30 points) after a fun off-season.

"It gets you a little bit happier at Thanksgiving, a few more presents at Christmas," said Johnson, who estimated 50 family members and friends were at Toyota Park. "It's pretty hard to describe. It's hard to describe the things that go on after you win a title. It doesn't change your life, but there's a few more bottles of wine, a few more presents, little things like that. It's definitely worth doing."

Johnson isn't the only local kid getting a RSL paycheck. Ned Grabavoy, from the Southwest suburbs, started next to Johnson in the midfield. Rauwshan McKenzie, who didn't make the trip, is from Hoffman Estates. Waubonsie Valley graduate Chris Schuler was available off the bench Thursday. General manager Garth Lagerwey is a York graduate.