MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Match Preview: RSL V. D.C. United

Published on August 8, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Friday, Aug. 8, 2014) - Real Salt Lake will return home on Saturday night, when it hosts D.C. United in a 2013 U.S. Open Cup Final rematch at 8:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ABC 4, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM.

The two sides last met in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup Final held at Rio Tinto Stadium on Oct. 1, 2013. The Claret-and-Cobalt suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss that night, unable to overcome a 45th minute goal scored by D.C. United MF Lewis Neal. RSL controlled the run of play throughout the match, but couldn't turn its possession into a goal, hitting the woodwork twice to drop the club's first Open Cup Final.

RSL enters Saturday's match coming off a 1-0 win at Colorado Rapids on Aug. 2 that secured the Rocky Mountain Cup for the Claret-and-Cobalt for the seventh time since 2006. The match was also a historic one for RSL GK Nick Rimando, who tied the MLS all-time shutout record with 112 career clean sheets. Saturday's clash with D.C. will provide the Claret-and-Cobalt veteran with the opportunity to break the record at home. RSL remains second in the Western Conference with 9-4-9 record and total of 36 points.

RSL is even against D.C. United in its all-time series, posting a 6-6-4 record against the Eastern Conference side. In last year's regular season meeting, Real Salt Lake fell 1-0 at RFK Stadium in its second match of 2013. The last time the two clubs met in Utah, RSL pulled off a 1-0 win on Sept. 1, 2012 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt has been successful at home against D.C. United, posting a 6-1-1 regular season record in the Beehive state.

Real Salt Lake will be without veteran DFs Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert on Saturday night due to yellow card accumulation. Both outside backs picked up yellow cards in RSL's 1-0 win at Colorado Rapids that resulted in their one-game suspensions. The absence of the two along with DF Aaron Maund who received a straight red card in the same match, will force RSL boss Jeff Cassar to shuffle the back line against D.C. Real Salt Lake DFs Chris Schuler, Nat Borchers, Carlos Salcedo, Abdoulie Mansally and Justen Glad are all available for selection.

D.C. United enters Saturday's match coming off a 1-0 loss at Houston Dynamo last Sunday. D.C. United currently sits second in the Eastern Conference with an 11-6-4 record and total of 37 points.

A very limited number of tickets to the RSL-D.C. match remain. Tickets can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. D.C. United

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. MT v. D.C. UnitedTV: ABC 4English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 7:00 p.m. MT)Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FMOnline: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide match updates

RSL History v. D.C.

RSL is even against D.C. United in its all-time series, posting a 6-6-4 record against the Eastern Conference side. In last year's regular season meeting, Real Salt Lake fell 1-0 at RFK Stadium in its second match of 2013. The last time the two clubs met in Utah, RSL pulled off a 1-0 win on Sept. 1, 2012 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt has been successful at home against D.C. United, posting a 6-1-1 regular season record in the Beehive state.

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