RSL TO WRAP THREE-GAME WEEK WITH HOME GAME AGAINST SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Real Salt Lake (6-5-3, 21 points, West #3) will play its third game in a week on Saturday, when it will take on West rival the San Jose Earthquakes (3-5-6, 15 points, West #7) at 7:30 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on ABC4, ESPN700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. ABC4 will air the 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately after the match; ESPN700 will air an hour-long pregame show before the game and will broadcast an hour-long postgame following the contest. Saturday’s game is RSL’s first home 7:30 p.m. MLS kickoff of the year; the Claret-and-Cobalt will play its home games at 7:30 or later through the summer.
Real Salt Lake has played San Jose once this year, getting a brace from FW Alvaro Saborio to down the Earthquakes 2-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium in the season opener on March 3.
REAL SALT LAKE ADVANCES TO LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND
Captain Kyle Beckerman scored an early goal to put RSL on top, but the Claret-and-Cobalt couldn’t see things out late, with Atlanta scoring an 87th minute equalizer to force the game into extra time. RSL scored twice in the first period of bonus soccer, going ahead 2-1 through FW Devon Sandoval before adding an insurance goal through MF Khari Stephenson. Stephenson’s booming strike turned out to be the game-winner, as Atlanta pulled a consolation goal back in stoppage time of the second period of extra time.
The Claret-and-Cobalt will take on USL Pro side Charleston Battery – which beat San Jose 1-0 in the third round on Tuesday – in the fourth round of the tournament on June 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff is a part of the RSL Season Ticket Package as Bonus Game B.
RSL RESERVES TO TAKE ON SAN JOSE RESERVES SUNDAY AT AMERICA FIRST FIELD
The Real Salt Lake Reserves will take on the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. The RSL Reserves lost its last match, falling 3-2 at the Chivas USA Reserves on May 20. Sunday’s Reserve League match is free to the public.
The RSL Reserves played the San Jose Reserves once this season, getting a first half goal from Devon Sandoval to down the Earthquakes Reserves 1-0 on the road on March 4.
REAL SALT LAKE MF JOHN STERTZER OUT 4-6 MONTHS AFTER SHOULDER SURGERY
Real Salt Lake MF John Stertzer will miss four to six months after undergoing successful surgery to repair a dislocated right shoulder on Thursday. The 12th overall pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft, Stertzer initially suffered the injury in the first half of RSL’s Reserve League loss at Chivas USA on May 20.
Stertzer’s operation comes just two weeks after RSL DF Rich Balchan had the same procedure done on his right shoulder. Like Stertzer, Balchan will also miss four to six months while recovering.
Dr. Andrew Cooper operated on both Stertzer and Balchan at Salt Lake Regional Hospital.
TICKETS FOR CONCACAF GOLD CUP DOUBLEHEADER AT RIO TINTO STADIUM ON SALE
Rio Tinto Stadium will host a CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader on July 13, with the U.S. taking on Cuba and Costa Rica facing Belize in Group Stage action. Tickets to the twin-bill are on sale now at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RioTintoStadium.com/events/gold-cup.php or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
Rio Tinto Stadium is the only venue in the country that will host the U.S. Men’s National Team twice this summer, with the Stars-and-Stripes playing a World Cup Qualifier against Honduras at the Sandy venue on June 18 before the Gold Cup doubleheader in July.
REAL SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT
Following is the Real Salt Lake injury report for Saturday’s MLS match against the San Jose Earthquakes:
OUT: DF Rich Balchan (L shoulder surgery), FW Alvaro Saborio (L quad strain), MF John Stertzer (R shoulder surgery)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Olmes Garcia (L quad strain), MF Cole Grossman (concussion), DF Chris Schuler (L foot pain)
