Real Salt Lake and LAFC are set to face-off for the first time this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. Real Salt Lake started off their season in Dallas, leaving with 1 point after a deflection off Marcelo Silva ended up in the back of the net and canceled out Plata’s 26th minute strike.
Rusnak ➡ @JoaoPlata10. @RealSaltLake up 1-0 in Frisco. #DALvRSL https://t.co/O4LUGuM8Xb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 4, 2018
2. Jefferson Savarino, Demar Phillips, and Damir Kreilach all started in Dallas and were subbed out during the second half due to cramping, but will be available to play against LAFC. Tony Beltran (knee 10/15), Jordan Allen (knee 6/16), Taylor Peay (knee 1/22), and Aaron Herrera (groin 2/28) are unavailable. Adam Henley (hamstring 2/22), whose injury allowed Shawn Barry to start in Dallas, is questionable.
3. RSL newcomers Shawn Barry, Damir Kreilach, and Alfredo Ortuno are all fit to play this Saturday. With impressive debuts under their belts, Barry and Kreilach hope to start again this weekend in their first home game with Real Salt Lake.
4. Real Salt Lake is unbeaten in all 9 MLS home openers played at Rio Tinto Stadium with a record of 4-0-5 and boasts an overall record of 105-26-44 at RioT. RSL ended the season 9-3-3 at home, including 5 consecutive home wins, under Mike Petke.
5. LAFC is off to a hot start in their inaugural season and looks to ride that wave into Rio Tinto Stadium. Carols Vela and Diego Rossi connected for the game-winner in just the 11th minute. Seattle looked poised to get on the board in the second half but couldn’t get passed LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who made 7 saves, and LA walked away with all 3 points.
Carlos Vela ➡ Diego Rossi. Enough said.
0-1 #SEAvLAFC https://t.co/eim5lsQf0W
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 4, 2018
Be sure to check out our interviews and practice sound with Mike Petke, Craig Waibel, Kyle Beckerman, Nick Rimando, Brian Dunseth, LAFC play-by-play Max Bretos, and RSL Technical Director Dane Murphy.
Real Salt Lake vs LAFC kicks off at 1:55 PM MST on ESPN700. Tune-in for pre-game with Tom Hackett and Spence Warne at 1PM.
