SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata will miss time due to a left hamstring strain suffered in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with LA, with the Ecuadorian attacker tweeting on Monday morning that he’ll be out for three weeks with the injury.
Plata initially suffered the hamstring strain in the 28th minute of Saturday’s contest at Rio Tinto Stadium, receiving treatment and returning to the field to test out his leg before being subbed off in the 36th for forward Olmes Garcia. The 22-year-old Plata assisted on Alvaro Saborio’s 19th minute goal against LA, and has two goals and two assists in three appearances this year. He is currently the only player in the top-five in MLS in both goals and assists.
Plata is one of three RSL forwards out injured, joining Robbie Findley and Devon Sandoval on the training table. RSL’s only remaining healthy strikers are Saborio, Garcia, 19-year-old Benji Lopez and 18-year-old Jordan Allen, a midfielder who can play up top in a pinch.
