Real Salt Lake returns to action after an international break to face San Jose Earthquakes, here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. It will have been eleven days since RSL’s road loss to Portland when they kick-off against San Jose on Wednesday night. Real had the majority of possession and six shots on goal but couldn’t do anything with their opportunities. Kelyn Rowe got his first start for the club while Kyle Beckerman served a yellow card suspension.
Albert Rusnak still leads the team with nine goals and three assists, Sam Johnson has nine goals, Jefferson Savarino has seven goals and five assists, Damir Kreilach has four goals and four assists, and Corey Baird has four goals and two assists. With the loss and other results around the conference, Real Salt Lake dropped from second place to fifth in the west with a record of 13-11-4.
2. With international action wrapping up on Tuesday night, Real Salt Lake will be without many key players and goalscorers against San Jose. Baird (USA), Rusnak (Slovakia), Savarino (Venezuela), Justen Glad (U.S. U-23), Aaron Herrera (U.S. U-23), Brooks Lennon (U.S. U-23), Sebastian Saucedo (U.S. U-23), and David Ochoa (U.S. U-20) will be unavailable for Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. In addition, midfielder Nick Besler is still unavailable with a broken foot. Douglas Martinez was signed from the Real Monarchs on August 31, perhaps in an effort to counteract the number of players missing for RSL against San Jose. Martinez was signed to the Monarchs from New York Red Bulls II on January 23, 2019, and has eleven goals and six assists in nineteen starts for the club this season.
Real Salt Lake is 10-11-11 all-time, including the 1-0 road loss on July 6, and 5-3-7 at home against San Jose. RSL is 10-3-1 at home this season with a goal differential of +15.
3. San Jose sits in fourth place in the western conference with a record of 13-10-5. Most recently the Earthquakes beat Orlando City 3-0 at home. Chris Wondolowski had a first-half brace but Magnus Eriksson’s goal in the third minute was enough to take all three points going into the international break. Wondolowski’s goals against Orlando brought his season total to thirteen goals and two assists, Vako Qazaishvili has eight goals and four assists, Eriksson has six goals and eight assists, Shea Salinas has six goals and three assists, Danny Hoesen has five goals and two assists, and Cristian Espinoza has two goals and twelve assists.
San Jose will be short with Nick Lima (USA), Jackson Yueill (USA), Guram Kashia (GEO), Vako (GEO), Marcos Lopez (PER), Gilbert Fuentes (U.S. U-17), JT Marcinkowski (U.S. U-23) all missing out due to international duty. In addition to missing those seven players, four of whom have started fifteen or more matches in 2019, San Jose will also be missing their head coach Matias Almeyda due to suspension.
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes begins on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 PM.
