MLS Real Salt Lake

Rsl Match Preview : Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy

Published on November 5, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Saturday, November 5, 2011) - After surviving its Conference Semifinal Series against the #2-seeded Seattle Sounders FC earlier this week, Real Salt Lake (West #3 seed) has made the quick turnaround to Southern California for tomorrow's MLS Western Conference Championship contest against this year's Supporters Shield holder and #1-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy. Real Salt Lake will look to knock off its 2009 MLS Cup combatant and qualify for Major League Soccer's ultimate contest for a second time in three seasons when Sunday's playoff tilt at The Home Depot Center kicks off at 7:00 p.m. MT. The RSL-LA winner will return to The Home Depot Center in two weeks' time on Sunday. Nov. 20, to take on the victor of the Eastern Conference Championship between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo (Sunday at 3:30 p.m. MT, live on FOX Soccer) in MLS Cup 2011.

Tomorrow's showdown will be nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while live radio coverage can be heard on ESPN 700/ESPN700Sports.com (English) and Juan 1600-AM (Spanish). In addition, fans are invited to gather for RSL's Official Western Conference Championship Watch Party at Gracie's (326 S. West Temple), beginning when the match does at 7:00 p.m. MT.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. LA Galaxy

- TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes

- Radio: ESPN 700/ESPN700Sports.com (America First Credit Union Pre-game Show starts at 6:00 p.m. MT) (English) and Juan 1600-AM (Spanish)

- Online: Live updates via Official RSL Twitter Feed (@RealSaltLake) and MLS MatchCenter on RealSaltLake.com; live streaming video available on ESPN3.com (subscription required)

RSL "Game Note" of the Match: Road Success as a Lower Seed

Real Salt Lake is now a perfect 6-0 in MLS Cup Playoff or CONCACAF Champions League series as the lower seed, which it obviously is again on Sunday in Los Angeles ... Past opponents to falter as favorites against RSL include Chivas USA (2008 MLS Cup Western Conf. Semifinals), Columbus (2009 MLS Cup Eastern Conf. Semifinals), Chicago (2009 Eastern Conf. Championship), Los Angeles (MLS Cup 2009), Saprissa (2011 CCL Semifinals) and Seattle (2011 Western Conf. Semifinals).

RSL History vs. LA Galaxy

Over the course of RSL's 20-game history against the Galaxy, it has been incredibly even between the two sides that are the only MLS Cup contenders to make the Conference Finals stage in at least three of the last four seasons ... The regular season series between the West rivals is split down the middle at (7-7-5), and while their MLS Cup 2009 meeting will technically go down as a 1-1 draw, it was RSL gaining the ultimate upper hand courtesy of its 5-4 PK triumph following the lone postseason meeting between the sides ... The Galaxy own the series record in Southern California by going 6-3-1 against RSL at The Home Depot Center, but hold only a 16-14 scoring edge in those 10 meetings in Carson ...

The two sides have split the series in 2011, each defending their home field ... They first met at Rio Tinto Stadium back on March 26, when the Claret-and-Cobalt jumped out to an early lead in the 2nd minute through Andy Williams and never looked back en route to a 4-1 drubbing in Sandy ... Following Williams' opener, Javier Morales would connect from the penalty spot and strike from long range before the halftime break came, while Paulo Jr.'s late tap-in put the final nail in the coffin in the early season marquee match-up ... RSL and LA met again just five weekends ago on October 1, when the Galaxy captured a 2-1 win despite falling behind early ... Striker Fabian Espindola would give RSL the lead just before halftime after heading in a Morales corner kick, but the Galaxy tied it up in the 59th minute thanks to a goal from forward Chad Barrett, followed by an uncharacteristic own goal that deflected off of Nat Borchers in the 72nd minute, allowing LA to take the lead and continue its trek towards becoming just the third team in MLS history to finished a regular season undefeated at home (one year after RSL became the second team to do so).

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