Earlier, we looked at five exciting home matchups not to miss on Real Salt Lake’s 2015 regular season schedule. Here is a look at the five top road tilts on the slate for the fans who venture to away matches or those looking to take in a game from their couch or local establishment.
1. March 7 vs. Portland Timbers. It’s the regular season opener and it’s in one of the most raucous atmospheres in the league. Seeing Nat Borchers in the Timbers’ green kits will look weird, but ripping off that bandaid in the first match of the season might take some sting out of his departure. Having the first look at Real Salt Lake in the new season will be exciting enough, too.
2. April 4 vs. San Jose Earthquakes. RSL makes its maiden voyage to brand new Avaya Stadium as the Earthquakes open their new home park in 2015. San Jose will be looking to establish Avaya as a fortress the way Salt Lake has with Rio Tinto Stadium since its opening in 2008 while RSL will aim to send the Bay Area fans home unhappy while also showing the national television audience on ESPN what to expect from the Claret-and-Cobalt this season.
3. September 12 vs. Houston Dynamo. Last time RSL visited BBVA Compass Stadium, it routed the Dynamo 5-2 when Javier Morales recorded three goals and one assist. With Erick “Cubo” Torres expected to join Houston in the summer, it will be a different looking Dynamo team than the one that was dazzled by Morales last May.
4. October 3 vs. Colorado Rapids. The Rocky Mountain Cup will be awarded on the third of three meetings between the two rivals. Many of the familiar faces are gone from the Rapids and RSL aims to continue its series dominance against Colorado, winning seven of the last eight Rocky Mountain Cups and posting a 7-2-6 record in the last 15 meetings.
5. October 25 vs. Seattle Sounders FC. In the final regular season match of the year, RSL will face the defending Supporters’ Shield winners at CenturyLink Field. In 2014, the Sounders clinched the regular season title against the LA Galaxy in the finale and if RSL can be in position to have the same stakes on the line there in 2015, they’ve got to feel optimistic. Salt Lake has seen a lot of success there in the past and, of course, won the MLS Cup title in that building in 2009.
