MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Update

Published on October 6, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


REAL SALT LAKE TO HOST SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES ON SATURDAY

Real Salt Lake returns home on Saturday, when it hosts San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Saturday's match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM, and 102.3 La Gran D FM.

Real Salt Lake will look to clinch a seventh-straight playoff berth on Saturday, after failing to solidify a spot in the postseason in its last contest, a 1-0 loss at Chivas USA. Despite controlling the majority of the match with 74 percent of possession, Real Salt Lake was unable to find the back of the net after falling behind in the 47th minute. Chivas USA took the lead after capitalizing on an RSL giveaway, allowing FW Erick Torres an open look that hit off the crossbar. Red-and-White FW Felix Borja was there to knock in the rebound in what would end up being the lone goal of the match. Real Salt Lake remains third in the Western Conference with a 13-8-10 record and total of 49 points, now 11 points off of league leaders Seattle Sounders FC and LA Galaxy.

Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes have met twice before this year, with both matches ending in draws at Buck Shaw Stadium. The two sides first played to a wild 3-3 finish in RSL's second match of the year on March 15, which was then followed by a 1-1 draw on Aug. 30. The Claret-and-Cobalt now post 4-4-3 all-time regular season road record against the Bay Area club.

Real Salt Lake has an even history against the Quakes, posting a 7-7-7 all-time regular season record against the California side. RSL also has a level record at home, going 3-3-4 against San Jose in the Beehive State. The last time both clubs faced off at Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL suffered a 2-1 defeat on Sept. 21, 2013.

San Jose enters Saturday's match coming off a 2-1 loss to Portland Timbers that officially eliminated them from the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The loss also extended the Earthquakes' winless streak to 11 games, placing them eighth in the Western Conference with a 6-13-11 record and total of 29 points.

RSL UNABLE TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH IN 1-0 LOSS AT CHIVAS USA

Real Salt Lake (13-8-10, 49 points, West #3) was unable to clinch a playoff berth on Sunday night, falling 1-0 to Chivas USA (7-18-6, 27 points, West #9) at StubHub Center.

Despite controlling the majority of the match with 74 percent of possession, Real Salt Lake was unable to stage a comeback after falling behind in the 47th minute. Chivas USA took the lead after capitalizing on an RSL giveaway, allowing FW Erick Torres an open look that hit off the crossbar. Red-and-White FW Felix Borja was able to knock in the rebound in what would end up being the lone goal of the match.

The Claret-and-Cobalt suffered a severe blow in the 33rd minute when DF Chris Schuler went down after a collision with fellow teammate DF Nat Borchers. The 27-year-old center back had to be subbed out with DF Rich Balchan entering the match and moving to right back, and RSL DF Carlos Salcedo moving centrally to take over for Schuler.

Chivas USA was able to make the most of an RSL giveaway just minutes into the second half, taking a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute. Claret-and-Cobalt substitute Balchan misplayed a pass in RSL's defensive end, allowing Chivas USA's Torres to pick up the ball and sprint to the top of the box and chip a shot that smacked off the crossbar. Borja was there for the follow-up, easily slotting the ball past helpless RSL GK Nick Rimando from close range.

Rimando came up huge for the Claret-and-Cobalt in the 64th minute, saving Torres' penalty kick to keep Chivas USA's lead to one. RSL's Balchan was whistled for the controversial PK, when Gantar called the defender for a foul in the box. Rimando continued to do what he does best, stopping the PK by correctly diving to his left and blocking Torres' shot for his 23rd career PK save.

Real Salt Lake saw a handful of half-chances to level the match throughout the final 10 minutes, but could not find the equalizer to fall 1-0 to Chivas USA for the second time this year.

FIVE REAL SALT LAKE PLAYERS RECEIVE NATIONAL TEAM CALL-UPS

Real Salt Lake has announced that MF Luis Gil, FW Joao Plata, GK Nick Rimando, FW Alvaro Saborio and DF Carlos Salcedo have all been called up to their respective national teams during the FIFA International window from Oct. 6-15. All five Claret-and-Cobalt players are only scheduled to miss Real Salt Lake's home match against San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 11.

Real Salt Lake veteran "˜keeper Nick Rimando will join the U.S. for a friendly against fellow RSL teammate Joao Plata's home country of Ecuador on Oct. 10 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn (5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN). U.S. Men's National Team FW Landon Donovan will also make his final appearance for the Stars-and-Stripes against Ecuador after a storied 15-year career with the USMNT. Rimando was most recently with the U.S. for its international friendly against the Czech Republic on Sept. 3 in Prague. The MLS all-time shutout king put in a stellar second half performance to record the 1-0 win and preserve the clean sheet. Rimando has 15 career caps for the U.S. Men's National Team for an undefeated record of 13-0-2, and was with the Americans this past summer for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Rimando will also be joined by Gil for the U.S.'s match against Ecuador. An experienced U.S. youth international, Gil has one cap with the senior USMNT, coming on in the final 15 minutes of the U.S.'s friendly win against Korea Republic at StubHub Center on Feb. 1. Gil was also included in the USMNT's April camp, training with Jurgen Klinsmann's squad in Phoenix and making the bench for the U.S.'s 2-2 friendly draw against Mexico on April 2.

Real Salt Lake's 2014 leading goal scorer, Plata, will join Ecuador for the second time this year for a pair of friendlies against the United States and El Salvador. Ecuador will face the Americans on Oct. 10 in Connecticut and then take on El Salvador at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., on Oct. 14. The speedy forward most recently joined his native country for matches against Bolivia and Brazil in Sept., earning the second cap of his career and registering an assist in his 21 minutes played against Bolivia.

Saborio has been called up by Costa Rica for matches against Oman on Oct. 10 and South Korea on Oct. 14. This will be Saborio's first inclusion with Los Ticos after suffering a broken foot while in pre-World Cup training camp at the end of May, excluding him from participating in Costa Rica's Cinderella run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. RSL's all-time leading goal scorer has 32 international goals in 93 career caps for La Sele.

Real Salt Lake Homegrown Player Carlos Salcedo will join the Mexican U-21's for the fourth time this year. Salcedo received his first call-up to the U-21's this past April and joined the squad for its July and Sept. camps. Mexico's U-21 camp serves as a preparatory squad for El Tri's 2016 Olympic efforts. Salcedo has nine appearances for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2014 and scored his first career goal in RSL's 5-1 win over Colorado Rapids on Sept. 19.

CLARET-AND-COBALT DEFEAT SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC 2-0 IN FRIENDLY AT RIO TINTO STADIUM

Real Salt Lake was able to produce a strong performance out of a makeshift lineup to beat USL PRO side Sacramento Republic FC 2-0 in a friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium last Tuesday night.

RSL FW Robbie Findley and MF Sebastian Velasquez scored for the Claret-and-Cobalt, which made nine changes to the starting lineup that fell 2-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. RSL also played in an uncharacteristic 4-2-3-1 formation instead of its usual diamond midfield.

Real Salt Lake went on to take the lead 12 minutes into the start of the second half when Sacramento's Daly was called for a foul after taking down Findley in the box. Findley stepped up to take the spot kick, smashing it down the middle to take a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute.

Findley almost made it two on the night with an open look in the 63rd minute. Jaime started the play outside the area, slipping Findley alone into the box. The speedy forward took a touch and sent a bending right-footed shot towards goal that went wide of the far post.

The Claret-and-Cobalt put the game away with a goal from Velasquez in the 90th minute. Sandoval jump-started the play, winning a turnover in the middle of the field and laying off the ball to Balchan on the right side. Balchan then picked out Velasquez outside the area who worked his way into the box and blasted a left-footed shot into the far upper corner to give RSL the 2-0 victory.

REAL SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT

OUT: MF Jordan Allen (R knee injury), MF John Stertzer (R fractured tibia), DF Chris Schuler (L orbital wall and floor fracture, L nasal bone fracture)

QUESTIONABLE: DF Tony Beltran (lower back injury)

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 6, 2014


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