MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Returns from MLS World Cup Hiatus Saturday Night V. San Jose

Published on June 22, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake (7-7-1, 22 pts, t-5th West) ends Major League Soccer's brief FIFA World Cup hiatus with a Saturday night match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, facing longtime West rival San Jose Earthquakes in an 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff. The match will be televised locally on KMYU and the KSL TV app, as well as ESPN700 AM, as part of a five-hour soccer block following NWSL action featuring Utah Royals FC at Chicago Red Stars (5:30p MT coverage, 6:00p MT kick).

RSL Head Coach Mike Petke's team hosts San Jose - against whom it is 2-0-2 in its last four on Utah soil - looking to extend its active six-game home winning streak in MLS action, currently tied for the best in club history (set in Aug.-Oct., 2014). Three of RSL's next four contests will be played in Sandy, where the Claret-and-Cobalt boast a 6-1-0 record so far this season, outscoring opponents 13-4 since an opening-day loss to LAFC. RSL has enjoyed a prominent home-field advantage since building its permanent home in Sandy, boasting a dominant 112-28-44 mark in the world-class venue since opening in October, 2008.

During the three consecutive wins prior to an 0-3 loss at LA Galaxy on June 9, RSL swept home-and-home matchups with two-time defending MLS Western Conference champion Seattle Sounders FC, with legendary GK Nick Rimando capturing career shutouts No. 140 and No. 141. Several homegrown RSL Academy products stood out during the run, including Utah native Sebastian "Bofo" Saucedo, who scored his first-ever MLS goal with a curling game-winner at Seattle, also adding two assists in the midweek win over Houston, highlighted by Captain Kyle Beckerman's late dagger. Saucedo's heroics came in a game that saw four other RSL Academy homegrowns in Petke's starting XI - DF Justen Glad, DF Danny Acosta, DF Brooks Lennon and FW Corey Baird - while another, DF Aaron Herrera, made his MLS debut as a substitute, becoming the ninth different player to debut for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2018. It was rookie forward Baird that provided the game-winner in a June 2nd 2-0 home win over the Sounders, heading home a rebounded save of Acosta's shot for his club-high fourth goal of the season. At the death, FW Luis Silva curled home an empty-netter to determine the final margin, Silva's second goal in as many contests prior to the June 9 loss at LA Galaxy.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. San Jose Earthquakes - Sat., June 23, 2018

Coverage Begins: 5:30 p.m. MT (Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. MT)

Local TV: KMYU - David James & 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 June 22, 2018


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