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Real Salt Lake Match Preview: RSL V. San Jose Earthquakes

September 20, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Friday, Sept. 20, 2013) - Real Salt Lake (14-9-6, 48 points, West #2) will look to bounce back from last week's loss this Saturday, when it will host the San Jose Earthquakes (10-11-8, 38 points, West #8) at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Only Maverik Mayhem Corner and Standing Room Only tickets remain to Saturday's match, which will be broadcast live on CW30, 99.1 FM and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. CW30 will air the 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately following the match; 99.1 FM will begin its pregame coverage at 6:00 p.m. MT and will air an hour-long postgame show immediately following the final whistle.

Real Salt Lake lost its last match, falling out of first-place in the Supporters' Shield and Western Conference races after last Friday's 2-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC . The Claret-and-Cobalt will look to bounce back from that defeat on Saturday against the Quakes, which RSL is looking to sweep for the second time in three years. Real Salt Lake is 2-0-0 against San Jose this year, getting a brace from FW Alvaro Saborio to down the Bay Area side 2-0 in the season opener at Buck Shaw Stadium on March 3 before scoring three first half goals to beat the Quakes 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 1.

A win on Saturday would keep RSL in the Supporters' Shield and Western Conference races. The Claret-and-Cobalt is currently one point behind Seattle in both the MLS and West table, with the Sounders holding two games in hand over the Utah side. Seattle plays at two-time defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on Saturday.

A victory on Friday would make RSL the first team in MLS's post-shootout era to reach the 15-win and 50-point plateaus in four consecutive seasons. D.C. United's 2005, 2006 and 2007 teams and LA's 2010, 2011 and 2012 squads are the only other teams to have three consecutive 15-win, 50-point seasons.

Real Salt Lake MF Javier Morales has owned the Quakes since they returned to the league in 2008, scoring six goals and adding six assists - including one of each in RSL's June 1 victory over San Jose - in 12 career regular season games against the Bay Area club.

San Jose enters Saturday's match fighting for its playoff life, currently trailing the fifth-place Portland Timbers by five points with only five regular season games remaining. The defending Supporters' Shield champion Quakes desperately need a win to begin to climb out of the West's eighth spot. San Jose drew its last match, playing fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful Vancouver Whitecaps FC to a scoreless draw at Buck Shaw Stadium last Saturday.

The Real Salt Lake Reserves will play its MLS Reserve League season finale next Tuesday, Sept. 24, hosting the Chivas USA Reserves at 11:00 a.m. MT at America First Field in Sandy. Admission to Tuesday's Reserve League match is free and it is open to the public.

The RSL first-team will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 28, heading north of the border to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 5:00 p.m. MT at BC Place. The Claret-and-Cobalt has a quick turnaround following the Vancouver match, returning home for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against DC United on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Tickets to the Open Cup Final at Rio Tinto Stadium are still available and can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

RSL History v. San Jose Earthquakes

Real Salt Lake has a successful history against the San Jose Earthquakes, posting a 7-6-5 regular season record against the Bay Area side. RSL is 3-2-4 against the Quakes at home, outscoring San Jose 14-7 in the nine matches between the sides in the Beehive State.

RSL is 2-0-0 against the Earthquakes this season, winning 2-0 at San Jose in the season opener on March 3 and beating the Quakes 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 1.

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