MLS Real Salt Lake

Preview: Real Salt Lake Hosts West Front-Runner FC Dallas

Published on July 6, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake (8-8-2, 26 pts., 4th West) continues its 14th Major League Soccer season on Saturday, July 7 at its Rio Tinto Stadium home, with an 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff against Western Conference front-runner FC Dallas (10-2-5, 35 pts., 1st West). RSL drew 1-1 at FC Dallas back on March 3 in the clubs' lone previous 2018 meeting.

RSL Head Coach Mike Petke's team - nine points ahead of last year's pace, ahead of a second-half run that saw the team eliminated from playoff contention on the final day - continues a stretch that sees RSL play four of five (and six of eight overall) at home in Sandy, where the Claret-and-Cobalt own an eight-game home unbeaten run and boast a 7-1-1 record so far this MLS season, outscoring opponents 18-7 since an opening-day loss to LAFC.

Wednesday night, RSL defeated rival Sporting Kansas City, 4-2, the attack exploding for three goals in a 15-minute span late in the first half to reverse an 0-1 deficit, as FW Jefferson Savarino, rookie FW Corey Baird and homegrown FW Sebastian Saucedo - each 21 years of age or younger - found the back of the net. The three-goal outburst in the first half was the Claret-and-Cobalt's first since Sept. 19, 2014, in a 5-1 win over Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado.

An eventful second half saw KC pull to within one goal before MF Albert Rusnák saw his penalty saved, while a pair of KC red cards reduced Sporting to nine men in an extended stoppage-time period that culminated with FW Luis Silva slamming home a penalty kick for the final margin. RSL's 8-3-4 finish to the 2017 season began with a 6-2 road win on July 4 a year ago, while the four-goal home celebration Wednesday night was the first for RSL since last August, in back-to-back 4-0 and 4-1 home wins over San Jose and Portland.

On Tuesday, July 10, RSL welcomes a third high-profile international opponent to the Wasatch Front in as many years, as German Cup winners Eintracht Frankfurt kick off against Real Salt Lake at 8:00 p.m. MT, following in the recent Utah footsteps of Manchester United (2017) and Internazionale Milano (2016). Tickets available at www.RSL.com/Tickets.

At Rio Tinto Stadium, the club has enjoyed a prominent home-field advantage since building its permanent home known as "The RioT," boasting a dominant 113-28-45 mark in the world-class venue since opening in October, 2008.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. FC Dallas - Sat., July 7, 2018

Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT (Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. MT)

Local TV: KMYU - Greg Wrubell & Brian Dunseth w/ Samantha Yarock

Digital Streaming: KSL TV app / KSL.com

English Radio: ESPN 700 AM (7:00 p.m. MT) - Bill Riley & Jay Nolly w/ Tom Hackett & Spencer Warne (pre-/post-game)

Spanish Radio: 104.7 /107.1 FM - Fernando Hortal, German Hortal & Carlos Artiles

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 6, 2018


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