Real Salt Lake will face the Seattle Sounders, again, this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Not too much has changed since the last time these two faced off, so here’s an abbreviated “what you need to know”:
1. Real Salt Lake is fresh off another important conference win against Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. With Albert Rusnak away on international duty and 5 matches in 15 days, changes were made to the line-up. Kyle Beckerman was dropped from the starting 11, the first time he’s dropped minutes this season and a decision that Petke did not take lightly, but was subbed in for Sunny in the 64th minute and scored the game-winner 18 minutes later. Sebastian “Bofo” Saucedo was key in RSL’s 2 goals, assisting Luis Silva’s goal (1-0) and playing the corner that Kyle Beckerman eventually put in (2-1).
With the win, RSL improved their home record to 6-1-0 and their home-winning streak to 5 matches.
Bofo joined The Bill Riley Show on Friday, saying the chemistry is really beginning to click again:
2. Real Salt Lake took all 3 points in the Seattle last Saturday for the first time since 2011 and got their first road win of 2018. Saucedo scored the game-winner in Seattle last week and his goal was nominated for Goal of the Week.
RSL will now look to take 6 points from the Sounders in just 8 days. The last time Seattle visited Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL got the 2-0 win thanks to goals from Jefferson Savarino and Luke Mulholland (who is now out injured.)
Speaking of injuries, nothing has changed in the last 3 days…
OUT: Tony Beltran (knee 10/17), Jordan Allen (knee 6/17), Shawn Barry (knee 3/10/18), Demar Phillips (ankle 4/7/18), Alex Horwath (achilles 4/18/18), and Luke Mulholland (back 4/3/18).
3. With the loss on Saturday, Seattle dropped to 2-6-2 on the season and remain in 11th in the west. Without a mid-week match, Seattle has been able to put two weeks of preparation into Saturday’s away match and they’ll need it. With a road record of 1-3-1, where they’ve scored just 4 goals and conceded 8, it won’t be an easy trip physically or mentally for the Sounders:
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake versus Seattle Sounders begins on Saturday, June 2nd at 6:30 PM with Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne from A Bar Named Sue (8136 South State St.), kick-off from Rio Tinto Stadium is at 7:30 PM with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly.
