Real Salt Lake lost 2-0 in Vancouver last Friday, a scoreline that doesn’t reflect how RSL played. Real Salt Lake will face Orlando City SC in Orlando on Sunday, here’s what you need to know:
1. RSL is winless on the road this season. After drawing their first match of the season at Dallas 1-1 they fell at Toronto, NYCFC, and Vancouver. RSL has scored only 2 goals in their 4 road matches.
2. Real Salt Lake is 0-1-2 against Orlando all-time. RSL’s only visit to Florida so far came in 2016, where they played to a 2-2 draw at Camping World Stadium thanks to 2 goals from Joao Plata.
3. Head coach Mike Petke was pretty pleased with RSL’s play and didn’t have many negative things to say despite the result in Vancouver. Petke joined The Bill Riley Show this week to discuss the matchup with OCSC, saying it’s going to be extremely difficult and they’ll have to manage the game well.
Listen to his full interview here.
4. RSL men Luke Mulholland (MF hamstring), Marcelo Silva (DF groin), and Taylor Peay (DF knee) all saw time recently with the Real Monarchs, as they are recovering from their respective injuries. Marcelo Silva was subbed out in the 46th minute of the Monarchs 2-1 victory Friday night.
5. Orlando City SC is on a 5 match winning streak after getting just 1 point in their first 3 matches. 3 of Orlando’s wins have been at home, scoring 10 goals and giving up 7. Sascha Kljestan has 2 goals and 3 assists in their last 5 games while Dom Dwyer has 5 goals on the season.
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake at Orlando City SC begins on Sunday, May 5th at 2 PM with Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne. Kick-off is at 3 PM with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly on ESPN 700.