Real Salt Lake will face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in Washington, here’s what you need to know:
1. RSL lost at Philadelphia for the first time in the club’s history last weekend and, unlike their previous road losses, there wasn’t much to take away from it. At 4-1 it was another hefty road loss for Real, who have given up 17 and scored 4 goals in 6 road matches. Damir Kreilach scored his second goal of the season in the 65′, adding to his 3 assists in his debut MLS season.
2. Real Salt Lake now has a record of 0-1-5 on the road this season, and it’s only going to get more difficult as they head to Seattle. RSL hasn’t won in Seattle in their last 8 league matchups, dating back to their 2011 visit, and has a record of 2-2-8 at Seattle all-time. Saturday’s match in Seattle will be RSL’s first of 3 in 8 days, but the next 2 will be at home where RSL is 4-0-1. Real will take on the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, May 30th for the first time this season, before facing the Seattle Sounders again on June 2nd at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando says they need to have a different mentality going to Seattle:
3. Joao Plata, who picked up an injury against D.C. United on May 12th, practiced this week and will look to get back into his starting role. Plata has 3 goals and 1 assist on the season. Marcelo Silva started in Philadelphia but was subbed in the 76′ as a precaution, Silva was also in practice this week. 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) remain out. Head coach Mike Petke joined The Bill Riley Show this week and gave an update on their injuries:
4. Seattle Sounders have scored in just 1 of their 3 league home matches this season and have a home record of 1-1-1, losing to Montreal 0-1, beating Minnesota 3-1, and drawing 0-0 with Columbus. With offensive woes at home, where they are usually dominant, it’s easy to see why Seattle sits in 11th in the west with just 8 points. Seattle Sounders reporter Matt Pentz joined The Bill Riley Show to discuss their early struggles:
5. The Sounders will be missing key players Jordan Morris (injury), Nicolás Lodeiro (World Cup – Uruguay), Román Torres (World Cup – Panama), and Gustav Svensson (World Cup – Sweden) until at least the end of June but Albert Rusnak says they can’t be underestimated at home:
For more Real Salt Lake coverage check-out espn700sports.com/category/rsl.
Our broadcast coverage of Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders begins on Saturday at 2 PM with Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne, kick-off is at 3 PM with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly.
