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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Visits the Portland Timbers on Saturday

August 30, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake will face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, August 31 at Providence Park where it will be looking to maintain the second-place spot in the Western Conference. Kickoff from Portland is set for 8:30p MT and can be seen live on KMYU, the KSL TV app and on the radio on ESPN700.

After a recent three-match home stand that saw RSL earn a 2-1-0 record and improve its 2019 home record to 10-3-1 (31 points), the club now returns to the road aiming to tighten its grip on second place in a competitive Western Conference. In its last outing, RSL used second-half stoppage time goals from FWs Joao Plata and Jefferson Savarino to claim the full three points on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids. GK Nick Rimando earned his eighth shutout of the year in the win, the 152nd of his career, to clinch the Rocky Mountain Cup for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons.

Entering Saturday's match with the Timbers, RSL owns a 2-3-4 all-time record at Providence Park. RSL's last regular season victory at Providence Park came in July 2017 when it secured a 4-1 win behind goals from MFs Kyle Beckerman and Albert Rusnák and a brace from Plata.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ Portland Timbers - Saturday, August 31, 2019

- Coverage Begins: 8:00 p.m. MT

- Local TV: KMYU w/ David James (play-by-play), Brian Dunseth (color) & Samantha Yarock (sideline)

- Digital Streaming: KSL TV app

- English Radio: ESPN700 with Bill Riley (play-by-play) & Jay Nolly (color)

- Spanish Radio: N/A

RSL enters the match seeing 11 different players notch goals for the club. The team is led in scoring by Designated Player FW Sam Johnson and MF Albert Rusnák with nine goals apiece and Rusnák adding an additional five assists.

2018 RSL Golden Boot winner MF Damir Kreilach has remained a steady presence in the midfield for RSL in 2019, providing four goals and five assists in 25 starts this season. Playmaker FW Jefferson Savarino has seven goals and five assists to his name, enough to earn a call-up to the Venezuelan Men's National Team for the 2019 Copa America in Brazil.

On the backline, DF Nedum Onuoha has been a mainstay at centerback in his first full season with the club, featuring in 21 of the club's 27 matches thus far. The former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers defender has seen been paired alongside Homegrown DFs Justen Glad, Erik Holt and Marcelo Silva and on occasion, MF Nick Besler. On both sides of the backline, Homegrown DFs Aaron Herrera, Brooks Lennon and Donny Toia have battled for starting positions at right and left back. Herrera leads the defensive group in matches played in 2019 having featured in 25 of RSL's 27 matches and leads the team in minutes played with 2,138.

In goal, legendary GK Nick Rimando has featured in 23 matches in 2019, earning eight shutouts. Prior to the commencement of the season, Rimando announced that 2019 - his 20th season in MLS would be his last and was recently selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber for the 2019 MLS All-Star game in Orlando, Florida on July 31. On July 6, Rimando became the first player in MLS to start and play in 500 regular season matches as he continues to set the bench mark for players across the league. GK Andrew Putna has also seen action in goal this season, starting four of RSL's 18 matches while earning one shutout on the year in RSL's dominant 3-0 victory over 2019 expansion side FC Cincinnati on April 19.

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