Real Salt Lake will face FC Dallas in their final of three matches in eight days. Here’s what you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match:
1. Real Salt Lake took down rivals Sporting Kansas City 4-2 on Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The win knocked SKC out of first place and moved RSL fourth with a record of 8-8-2. Three of Real Salt Lake’s four goals were scored by players under 23-years old, Jefferson Savarino, Corey Baird, and Sebastian Saucedo.
The win on Wednesday extended RSL’s home unbeaten streak to eight and boosted their home record to 7-1-1.
Baird’s goal moved back in front as RSL’s top goalscorer at 5 goals and 2 assists while Albert Rusnak’s saved PK kept him at 4 goals and 4 assists. Damir Kreilach has 3 goals and 4 assists, Joao Plata has 3 goals and 1 assist, Luis Silva has 4 goals, Jefferson Savarino has 3 goals and 2 assists, and Sebastian Saucedo has 2 goals and 3 assists.
2. RSL’s injury list hasn’t changed since earlier this week:
OUT: Tony Beltran (knee 10/15/17), Jordan Allen (knee 6/16/17), Shawn Barry (knee 3/10/18), Demar Phillips (ankle 4/7/18), Alex Horwath (achilles 4/18/18), Luke Mulholland (back 5/2/18), David Horst (achilles 6/26/18), and Ricky Lopez-Espin (knee 6/13/18).
3. Saturday’s match will be the second between RSL and Dallas this season, the first at Rio Tinto. Dallas and RSL kicked off their 2018 season in Dallas on March 3rd, playing to a 1-1 draw. RSL is 11-19-7 all-time against Dallas, but has kept a winning record of 10-6-4 at home against the Toros. RSL captain Kyle Beckerman says getting a win over Dallas on Saturday will take everything they have:
via RSL.com
4. FC Dallas is 4-2-1 and has a -1 goal differential on road in 2018, averaging 1.86 points per game away from home, the second highest in the league. FC Dallas has no suspensions and no reported injuries but announced the transfer of playmaker Mauro Diaz to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC earlier this week. Diaz had 807 minutes for Dallas this season, getting 2 goals and 8 assists in 12 appearances. This was Diaz’s sixth season with Dallas.
5. Dallas is coming off a 3-2 comeback win over league-leading Atlanta United on Wednesday, boosting their record to 10-5-2 and hopping SKC into first place. Roland Lamah leads Dallas with 7 goals and 4 assists, Maxi Urruti has 6 goals and 2 assists.
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake vs FC Dallas begins on Saturday, July 7th at 7 P.M. with Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne, kick-off is at 8 P.M. with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly.
