MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Update

Published on May 5, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


REAL SALT LAKE TO TAKE ON HOUSTON DYNAMO AT BBVA COMPASS STADIUM ON SUNDAY

Real Salt Lake will continue its road schedule this week, taking on Houston Dynamo at 5:00 p.m. MT at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday, May 11. Sunday's match will be broadcast on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM.

Real Salt Lake continued its undefeated start to the 2014 season this past weekend, staging a thrilling comeback to defeat Chicago Fire 3-2 at Toyota Park. The Claret-and-Cobalt went down 2-0 in the first half, but managed to claw its way back into the match after RSL FW Joao Plata cut the lead by one in the 72nd minute. RSL FW Alvaro Saborio went on to score the equalizer in the 90th minute and then assisted on the game-winner scored by Plata again in the 93rd minute. Real Salt Lake currently sits second in the Western Conference with a 4-0-5 record and total of 17 points.

With Saturday's win, RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar has extended his record-breaking unbeaten run to nine games which is the best start to a managerial career in MLS's non-shootout era. Cassar is now in sole possession of the second-best start for a coach in MLS history (including the shootout era), behind Lothar Osiander who led LA Galaxy to a 12-0-0 start in 1996.

Saturday's match in Houston will be the first and only meeting in the regular season between Real Salt Lake and the Dynamo. Real Salt Lake has a mixed history against Houston, posting a 4-9-5 all-time regular season record against the Texas side. The Claret-and-Cobalt has remained winless when playing the Dynamo on the road, claiming eight losses and one draw in the Lone Star State.

The last time the two sides met was at Rio Tinto Stadium on August 10, 2013, which resulted in a 1-0 win for the Claret-and-Cobalt. Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio was able to secure the rare win, converting a penalty kick in the 37th minute. The win marked RSL's second victory out of its last 13 matches against the Dynamo; the previous victory a 3-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 13, 2010.

The Houston Dynamo currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 3-4-2 record and total of 11 points. The Dynamo will play a mid-week game before Sunday's matchup, taking on Columbus Crew on Wednesday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Real Salt Lake will return home following its clash with Houston, set to host Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to the RSL-COL contest 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 DEFEATS CHICAGO FIRE 3-2 AT TOYOTA PARK

Real Salt Lake (4-0-5, 17 points, West #2) won in dramatic fashion on Saturday night, getting a 90th minute equalizer from FW Alvaro Saborio and a 93rd minute winner from FW Joao Plata to defeat Chicago Fire (0-2-6, 6 points, East #10) 3-2 at Toyota Park.

RSL fell behind early, conceding in the 22nd and 30th minutes to go into the half down 2-0. The Claret-and-Cobalt didn't pull one back until the 72nd minute, when Plata finished a MF Javier Morales pass to cut RSL's deficit in half. Saborio made it 2-2 in the 90th minute, and Plata finished the Fire off in the 93rd, finishing a Saborio cross to give RSL all three points.

Saturday's win moves the Claret-and-Cobalt to 4-0-5 on the season. RSL remains the only unbeaten team in MLS, with the team's regular season unbeaten streak now standing at 13 games dating back to last season.

Chicago FW Mike Magee gave Chicago the lead in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a rebound to slot home from close-range. RSL GK Nick Rimando made a magnificent save to keep the first effort out, quickly diving to his left to make a one-handed stop on Chicago MF Harry Shipp's 20-yard effort. There was nothing he could do on the follow-up however, with Magee coasting in and powering home from inside the six to put RSL down 0-1.

Chicago FW Juan Luis Anangono gave the Fire a 2-0 lead in the 30th minute, when he acrobatically headed a DF Greg Cochrane cross inside the left post from eight yards out.

Plata pulled RSL within one in the 72nd minute. Morales assisted on the play, weaving a pass through the Fire defense to Plata just inside the area. The Ecuadorian attacker took it from there, turning and powering a low right-footer inside the left post to make it 2-1.

RSL kept the pressure on after Plata's first strike, pinning Chicago in its own half and putting the Fire backline under siege before Saborio equalized in the 90th minute. Substitute DF Abdoulie Mansally started the move, playing a give-and-go with MF Ned Grabavoy down the left side before lobbing a cross into the middle. Saborio got on the end of it at the back post, heading a shot that was blocked by a Fire player before pouncing on the rebound and blasting home from close-range.

RSL stayed on the front foot after Saborio's equalizer, with Plata scoring the dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage time. Saborio assisted on the goal, hitting an inch-perfect cross from the left wing that Plata volleyed in from four yards out.

Real Salt Lake will aim to maintain its unbeaten record next Sunday, when it will play at the Houston Dynamo. Next Sunday's match will kick at 5:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM. RSL will return home on Saturday, May 17, when it will take on Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to the May 17 match are on sale 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 FW JOAO PLATA NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Real Salt Lake FW Joao Plata has been named MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week Nine of the 2014 MLS season.

Plata put in a spectacular performance in the Claret-and-Cobalt's thrilling 3-2 win over Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Saturday. After going down 2-0 in the first half, the speedy Ecuadorian cut the lead by one in the 72nd minute, and went on to score the game-winner in the 93rd minute after RSL FW Alvaro Saborio equalized three minutes earlier. Plata now claims five goals and two assists in six games played this season. His five goals in 394 minutes played gives him 1.14 goals per 90 minutes, third in the league amongst players with at least 100 minutes played.

Plata's first goal on Saturday came in the 72nd minute to pull the Claret-and-Cobalt within one. RSL MF Javier Morales assisted on the play, weaving a pass through the Chicago Fire defense to Plata just inside the area. The Ecuadorian attacker took it from there, turning and powering a low right-footer inside the left post to make it 2-1.

After Saborio equalized in the 90th minute, RSL stayed on the front foot, with Plata scoring the dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage time. Saborio assisted on the goal, hitting an inch-perfect cross from the left wing that Plata volleyed in from four yards out.

This is Plata's second MLS Player of the Week honor - his first with Real Salt Lake. The Ecuadorian previously won in 2011 with former club Toronto FC. This marks the third MLS Player of the Week honor for RSL in 2014 - GK Nick Rimando previously won Week One and Week Seven - and the 24th time in RSL history that a Claret-and-Cobalt player has won the award.

The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

RSL U-12 ACADEMY TRYOUTS TO BE HELD ON MAY 31 AND JUNE 1

Real Salt Lake has announced that tryouts for the RSL-Arizona Academy will be held on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah. The tryouts will be open to players born in the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Players interested in trying out must turn in their registration form and a $50 registration fee to RSL Youth Development Director Teresa Nelson by Friday, May 30. A .PDF version of the registration form can be found online here. Players interested in trying out can either return their signed forms via email, in person or by the postal service. Any questions regarding registration should be directed to Teresa Nelson via email at tnelson@realsaltlake.com or over the phone at 801-727-2714. More information on the RSL U-12 Team can be found online here.

The tryouts will consist of several game practices and exercises designed to show the coaching staff range of ability, skills, speed and athleticism. It is an informal session, aimed at giving players the opportunity to display their talent and to obtain an assessment of their potential from an RSL-Arizona Academy Staff Coach.

After being determined a top player by our Academy staff by performing well over the weekend, players will be invited back to participate in the Real Salt Lake Residential Academy in Arizona. RSL-AZ Academy staff will work together on determining the right mix of players based on strengths and weaknesses of individuals, group and team performance.

Widely considered one of the top youth academies in the country, the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy has a long history of accomplishment. Both the U-16 and U-18 Academy teams have qualified for the Academy playoffs every year of its existence, with the RSL U-16 team winning the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-16 national championship in 2013. In 2014, the RSL-AZ Academy U-16 team reached the 2014 Generation adidas Cup Championship. The RSL-AZ Academy also provides a steady flow of players to U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams, with no fewer than six players earning call-ups to the U.S. U-20, U-18 and U-16 National Teams in the last year.

As a testament to its success, every RSL-Arizona player has been offered a college scholarship or has signed a professional contract upon graduation from the Academy. In 2013, 45 Academy graduates played Division I and Division II college soccer, with 19 graduates participating in the 2013 NCAA College Cup tournament. Seven RSL-Arizona Academy products have graduated to the RSL first team since 2010, with five others signing with other professional clubs both in the U.S. and abroad.

Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy Tryout Schedule:

Saturday, May 31

8:30-10:00 a.m. - Players born in 2000 and 2001

10:15-11:45 a.m. - Players born in 1998 1999

2:00-3:30 p.m. - Players born in 2000 and 2001

3:45-5:15 p.m. - Players born in 1998 and 1999

Sunday, June 1

8:30-10:00 a.m. - Players born in 2000 and 2001

10:15-11:45 a.m. - Players born in 1998 and 1999

Real Salt Lake Academy Tryout Staff:

Martin Vazquez

Head Coach/ Director of Soccer Real Salt Lake-Arizona AcademyFormer Head Coach, Chivas USAFormer Assistant Coach Bayern Munich

Freddy Juarez

Assistant Coach/Residential Advisor at Real Salt Lake-Arizona Residential AcademyFormer Coaching Director of New Mexico Striker FC

Tony Bruce

Assistant Coach Real Salt Lake-Arizona Residential AcademyFormer coach at San Diego Surf Soccer Club

RSL APPROACHING 12,000 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Thanks to the passion of our fans, Real Salt Lake is rapidly approaching an extension of its record-setting PRIDE season ticket holder total, closing in on the 12,000 Season Ticket Holder milestone.

To honor this monumental event, we're celebrating "RSL's 12,000th Man." While the RSL Family encompasses every person who ever cheers on the Claret-and-Cobalt, the PRIDE signifies those who have made the commitment to become a season ticket holder and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Tickets to all of RSL's MLS regular season home matches and three additional bonus matches are included in the Real Salt Lake Season Ticket Package. Season Ticket Holders also have a variety of other benefits, including exclusive access to RSL's annual "Meet the Team" event and a discount at the Real Salt Lake Team Store. RSL Season Tickets are currently on sale and available for purchase at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

REAL SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT

OUT: FW Robbie Findley (R knee tendon repair)

DOUBTFUL: MF Luis Gil (Non-specific soft tissue injury), MF Cole Grossman (shin splints)

Check out the Real Salt Lake Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 5, 2014


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