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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Match Preview: RSL V. Seattle Sounders FC

August 15, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Friday, Aug. 15, 2014) - Real Salt Lake will host Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday for a 2-v-1 matchup in a nationally televised match at 12:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Saturday's match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network, ESPN 700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM.

Saturday's contest will be a duel for the top spot in the league. RSL currently sits in second-place in the Western Conference and is tied for second in the league with Sporting Kansas City. RSL posts a 10-4-9 record with a total of 39 points, two points behind first-place Seattle, which has two games in hand on the Claret-and-Cobalt.

Real Salt Lake enters this weekend's matchup looking to continue its five-game unbeaten run in league play. The Claret-and-Cobalt has rebounded from its mid-summer slump, going 3-0-2 in its last five matches. RSL's last loss came on July 12, a 1-0 defeat at LA Galaxy.

The Claret-and-Cobalt is coming off a 1-1 draw with Mexican side Club Tijuana in a midweek friendly on Tuesday night. RSL MF Luis Gil provided the late equalizer in the 88th minute, striking a beautiful half-volley from inside the box to the top corner. In its last MLS action, RSL routed D.C. United 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Aug. 9. RSL FW Joao Plata opened up the scoring in the 11th minute for his 10th goal of the season, followed by a brace from DF Chris Schuler with goals in the 13th and 24th minutes for his first of the year.

Saturday's clash will be the second meeting between the two clubs in 2014. The Western Conference foes last met on May 31 at CenturyLink Field, with Seattle ending RSL's unbeaten start the season with a 4-0 romp. RSL had previously gone undefeated through its first 12 matches, tying the all-time record for longest unbeaten start to a season with the 1996 and 2010 LA Galaxy and 2000 Kansas City Wizards.

Real Salt Lake holds a slight edge in the overall series between the two sides, posting a 5-4-4 all-time record against Seattle. Real Salt Lake has been successful at home v. the Sounders, posting a 3-1-2 record in the Beehive state, and outscoring the Pacific Northwest side 8-5 at home. The last time the clubs met at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 22, 2013, Real Salt Lake pulled off a 2-0 win with goals from MF Kyle Beckerman and FW Robbie Findley.

Saturday's meeting will be the first time both teams' U.S. internationals will face each other this year. RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman and GK Nick Rimando, along with Seattle FW Clint Dempsey and DF DeAndre Yedlin, were all part of the U.S. Men's National Team that participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, causing them to miss the May 31 matchup.

The Sounders enter Saturday's contest coming off a resounding 6-0 win over Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday night in Seattle. In it last MLS play, the Sounders defeated Houston Dynamo 2-0 at CenturyLink Field on Aug. 10. The Sounders will be without FW Obafemi Martins, who received two yellow cards in the Houston match, suspending the lethal striker from Saturday's tilt in Utah. Seattle currently sits in first-place in the Western Conference and league with a 13-6-2 record and total of 41 points.

RSL History v. Seattle

Real Salt Lake holds a slight edge in the overall series between the two clubs, posting a 5-4-4 all-time record against Seattle. Real Salt Lake has been successful at home v. the Sounders, posting a 3-1-2 record in the Beehive state, and outscoring the Pacific Northwest side 8-5 at home. The last time the clubs met at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 22, 2013, Real Salt Lake pulled off a 2-0 win with goals from MF Kyle Beckerman and FW Robbie Findley.

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