MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Visits Portland for Crucial Western Conference Clash

Published on September 24, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


HERRIMAN, Utah - Real Salt Lake is set to travel to Providence Park where it will face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, September 25 at 8:30 p.m. MT in a crucial Western Conference clash.

The match will be broadcast live on KMYU and can be accessed locally via live stream on the KSL TV app. ESPN700 will carry the English radio broadcast and Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3, La Gran D 102.3 and KTUB 1600.

Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers

Providence Park; Portland, Oregon

Saturday, September 25 at 8:30 p.m. MT

Records: Real Salt Lake (10-9-6, 36 points, 6th in West); Portland Timbers (11-10-4, 37 points, 5th in West)

Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a 8-10-7 all-time record against Portland, with a 2-5-5 record at Providence Park. The two teams played to a 3-2 finish in favor of Portland, during which Damir Kreilach and Albert Rusnak scored for RSL on August 7.

Stories to Watch:

The Road to Playoffs

With just nine games remaining the push for final playoff positions is well underway. Currently, RSL sits in sixth place, two places above the playoff line with 36 points and sit just two points behind fourth-place LA Galaxy who hold the final position for a guaranteed home playoff match. Meanwhile, Portland Timbers are in fifth place, just one point ahead of RSL. A win over Portland would vault RSL into fifth place. A win in Portland and a loss from LA Galaxy on Sunday will see RSL jump into fourth place.

A New Era

Since Interim Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni changed the team's formation to a 3-5-2 Real Salt Lake has earned a 2-1-0 record, during which the team has outscored its opponents 7-6. In that time five different players have scored for RSL including Anderson Julio, Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram, Rubio Rubin and Albert Rusnak. Additionally, the team was able to maintain its position as the second-highest scoring team in the Western Conference with 41 goals, tied for the fourth-most in the league.

Hear Him Roar

Last weekend against Seattle Sounders FC, defender Aaron Herrera continued his historic season by adding his ninth assist of the season, nearly doubling his previous career total. His nine assists lead all defenders in the league and are tied for the third-most of all players in the league. Only Julian Gressel of D.C. United has challenged Herrera's assist tally having recorded eight assists in 25 matches compared to Herrera's total in just 20 matches played this season. Herrera will need to record three more assists in nine matches to set a record for most assists by a defender in a single season.

Connections: Midfielder Nick Besler was selected fifth overall by Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and spent two seasons with the club's USL Championship side before coming to Utah via Real Monarchs prior to the start of the 2017 season. On the other hand, Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella appeared in 29 matches for Real Salt Lake from 2013-16. Forward Rubio Rubin was born and raised just outside of Portland in Beaverton, Oregon.

Former RSL Assistant Coach Miles Joseph currently serves as the assistant coach for Portland Timbers. Joseph served under Jason Kreis from 2010-14.

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