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Preview: RSL at Montreal Impact

Jason Kreis v. Chivas USA - 04.20.13

SANDY, Utah – Fresh off of a dramatic comeback victory at New England on Wednesday, Real Salt Lake will continue its three-game road trip on Saturday, when it will take on the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo.


Saturday’s match will kickoff at 12:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D/1600 AM. CW30 will air its 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately following the match; ESPN 700 will begin its pregame coverage at 11:00 a.m. MT and will air an hour-long postgame show immediately following the final whistle. 


Saturday’s match will be RSL’s third game in a week. The Claret-and-Cobalt won the first two games in its busy stretch, notching a 2-0 home victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Saturday before winning 2-1 at the New England Revolution on Wednesday night. RSL came from behind to win on Wednesday, conceding in the 51st minute before getting goals from rookie FW Devon Sandoval in the 77th minute and FW Olmes Garcia in the 89th. Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando was the real hero, saving New England FW Saer Sene’s 92nd minute penalty kick to secure all three points for the Utah side.  


RSL is still struggling with injuries at forward as it heads into Saturday’s match, as leading scorer FW Alvaro Saborio (R quad tear) is out for the match while FW Robbie Findley (L knee hyperextension) and Garcia (R adductor strain) are questionable due to injury. The team will also be without DF Rich Balchan (L shoulder separation) and MF Cole Grossman (concussion), while MF Yordany Alvarez (R ankle contusion) and DF Nat Borchers (influenza) are also both questionable.


Real Salt Lake has played against Montreal just once, beating the then-expansion Impact 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 4, 2012. Saturday’s game will be RSL’s first-ever MLS game in Montreal. A win over the Impact would be RSL’s first in Canada – the Claret-and-Cobalt has zero victories in nine combined tries in MLS and CONCACAF Champions League action at Vancouver and at Toronto.


Montreal has gotten off to a hot start in 2013 under first-year Head Coach Marco Schallibaum, currently sitting in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2-2 record. The Impact is 3-0-1 at home this year and 1-0-1 at Stade Saputo, with the club’s other two home wins coming at Olympic Stadium. Montreal lost its last match, falling 2-1 on Wednesday at the New York Red Bulls.


RSL will return to Utah following Saturday’s match, where it will start preparing next week for its May 19 match at Western Conference opponent Chivas USA.


How to Follow Real Salt Lake at Montreal Impact

  • Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. MT at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec
  • TV: CW30 (Ford Postgame Show to immediately follow final whistle)
  • English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 11:00 a.m. MT)
  • Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM
  • Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide live match updates


Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Game Guide for Saturday’s RSL-MTL matchup
RSL History v. Montreal Impact

Real Salt Lake has played the second-year Montreal Impact just once in its history, beating the Canadian side 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 4, 2012. Former RSL FW Paulo Jr. scored a penalty kick goal to power the Claret-and-Cobalt past the then-expansion Impact in that match.


RSL has never played at Montreal. A win on Saturday would be the Claret-and-Cobalt’s first victory in Canada. Real Salt Lake has never won in nine total tries in MLS and CCL play at Vancouver and at Toronto.