Can you use two Playstation 2 consoles to play a system link Playstation 1 game?

I am trying to use two PS2 consoles to play the PS1 game Command and Conquer: Red Alert. The game is supposed to be system link compatible, but no link screen pops up. I am using an i-link cable. I don't think using a LAN cable and hooking it up to a network would work with the older PS1 games.