MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Update

Published on May 1, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


REAL SALT LAKE WRAPS HOME STAND AGAINST WESTERN FOE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

Real Salt Lake will wrap up its three-game home stand this Saturday with a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. RSL has already played Vancouver once this year, getting a goal from FW Olmes Garcia to tie Whitecaps FC 1-1 at BC Place on April 13. The Claret-and-Cobalt split the first two games of its home stand, beating Chivas USA 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 20 before falling to the LA Galaxy 2-0 at the Sandy facility last Saturday.

This Saturday's match w ill kickoff at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN700 and 102.3 La Gran D/1600 AM. CW30 will air the 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately after the match; ESPN700 will air and hour-long pregame show starting at 6:00 p.m. MT and will broadcast an hour-long postgame show following the game.

A limited amount of tickets to Saturday's game 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.

REAL SALT LAKE TO HOST STAR WARS DAY AT RIO TINTO STADIUM ON SATURDAY

Real Salt Lake will host Star Wars Day at Rio Tinto Stadium this Saturday. The "May the 4th be with you" festivities will feature interactive games, costumed characters and special promotions inspired by George Lucas' iconic film series.

Star Wars characters will be stationed throughout Rio Tinto Stadium both before and during the match, with Darth Vader performing the pregame coin toss and "Imperial Security" standing field side for portions of the match. Additionally, Darth Vader, RSL mascot Leo the Lion and numerous other Star Wars characters will play interactive games and be available for photo-ops at Carnival Real beginning at 5:00 p.m. MT before moving inside the stadium when gates open at 6:00 p.m. MT.

Fans who attend the match dressed in a Star Wars costume will have the opportunity to march on the field in the Parade of Kings, with up to 300 fans allowed on the Rio Tinto Stadium pitch for the pregame procession. Fans interested in marching in the Parade of Kings must arrive at the southwest tunnel of Rio Tinto Stadium by 6:15 p.m. MT at the latest in order to participate.

In accordance with league policy, fans will NOT be allowed to bring weapons of any kind into Rio Tinto Stadium for the game. That means no lightsabers, blasters or any other Star Wars related weapons.

RSL LEADING SCORER ALVARO SABORIO EXPECTED TO MISS "SEVERAL WEEKS" DUE TO INJURY

Real Salt Lake leading scorer FW Alvaro Saborio is expected to miss "several weeks" due to a left quad strain, according to comments made by RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis on Tuesday. Saborio initially suffered the injury during last Friday's training session. The Costa Rican international was originally in RSL's starting lineup for Saturday's game against LA, but was a late scratch due to the injury.

Kreis also revealed on Tuesday that FW Robbie Findley (L knee soreness) and FW Olmes Garcia (R adductor strain) are questionable for Saturday's match against Vancouver. Neither Findley nor Garcia trained on Tuesday. Findley was a late scratch from the substitutes' bench on Saturday due to his injury while Garcia played 90 minutes in the loss to LA.

DF Rich Balchan (L shoulder dislocation) also didn't train on Tuesday. The third-year player suffered two shoulder dislocations in the first 15 minutes of RSL's 1-0 Reserve League victory over LA on Sunday.

RSL SENDS MF ENZO MARTINEZ ON SHORT-TERM LOAN

Real Salt Lake on Tuesday sent MF Enzo Martinez on a short-term loan to the Carolina RailHawks of the second-division North American Soccer League (NASL).

A second-year player out of the University of North Carolina, Martinez has not appeared in any of RSL's first team games this year. The versatile midfielder has started all six of RSL's Reserve League matches and its exhibition match against BYU, playing 561 minutes in the seven games.

Currently sitting in a three-way tie at the top of the NASL standings, the Cary N.C.-based RailHawks will play three league games in May. Cary is located about three hours from Martinez's hometown of Rock Hill, S.C.

RSL RESERVES IMPROVE TO 3-1-2 WITH WIN OVER LA

The Real Salt Lake Reserves improved their MLS Reserve League record to 3-1-2 on Sunday, when they beat the LA Galaxy Reserves 1-0 at America First Field. MF Sebastian Velasquez scored the lone goal for the Claret-and-Cobalt, which dominated LA throughout the match.

The RSL Reserves next play on Monday, May 20, when they'll take on the Chivas USA Reserves at 12:00 p.m. MT at the Home Depot Center.

RSL ANNOUNCES LOCAL TRYOUT DETAILS FOR RSL-ARIZONA ACADEMY

Real Salt Lake announced on Tuesday the local tryout schedule for its RSL-Arizona Academy U-16 and U-18 teams. The tryouts will be held at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah and will be open to players born between 1995 and 1998.

The full RSL-Arizona Academy staff, RSL Head Scout Andy Williams and RSL Director of Youth Camps Rob Karas will all be on hand to evaluate the talent on-hand during the tryouts. Players who perform well may be invited back to participate in RSL's youth development program, possibly including an invitation to join the RSL-Arizona residential academy.

TICKETS FOR CONCACAF GOLD CUP DOUBLEHEADER AT RIO TINTO STADIUM ON SALE

Rio Tinto Stadium will host a CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader on July 13, with the U.S. taking on Cuba and Costa Rica facing Belize in Group Stage action. Tickets to the twin-bill are on sale now at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RioTintoStadium.com/events/gold-cup.php or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

Rio Tinto Stadium is the only venue in the country that will host the U.S. Men's National Team twice this summer, with the Stars-and-Stripes playing a World Cup Qualifier against Honduras at the Sandy venue on June 18 before the Gold Cup doubleheader in July.

REAL SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT

Following is the Real Salt Lake injury report for Saturday's MLS match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC:

OUT: DF Rich Balchan (L shoulder dislocation), MF Cole Grossman (concussion), FW Alvaro Saborio (L quad strain)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Robbie Findley (L knee soreness), FW Olmes Garcia (R adductor strain), DF Chris Wingert (L quad strain)

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 1, 2013


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