Road Warriors
Real Salt Lake has finished the first two legs of its four-game road journey, falling 6-4 to D.C. United at RFK Stadium and winning a 1-0 Champions League match over Municipal in Guatemala. Now RSL has two more big matches on the schedule before returning to Rio Tinto Stadium, starting with the Whitecaps on Saturday at BC Place.
The road swing will continue on Wednesday at Sporting Park in the semifinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but first thing’s first, RSL must deal with a deep and strong Vancouver team that leads the Western Conference at 12-8-3.
Third Time’s The Charm?
RSL has dropped both matches against Vancouver thus far this season, with individual mistakes costing Salt Lake in both matches. In both matches, Vancouver found the match-winner after the 75th minute.
Now with a third chance to take on the top team in the Western Conference, Salt Lake has a chance to earn points against the Whitecaps for the first time this season.
Manic Midfield
Both Salt Lake and Vancouver employ packed midfields – RSL in a 4-3-3 and Vancouver in a 4-2-3-1. With midfield real estate at a premium, that could amplify the necessity for wide play.
Vancouver Head Coach Carl Robinson has a midfield built in his image, with hard-working defensive mids in Gershon Koffie and Matias Laba. In front of them sits play-maker Pedro Morales, who has four goals and four assists in 17 matches this season. Contending with that trio could be RSL’s greatest challenge in the match.
Competition Conversion
RSL has had no problems finding ways to win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and in CONCACAF Champions League. And while the four victories in those two tournaments has certainly translated to success in regular season play, it hasn’t come at the same rate. Since the start of the Open Cup in mid-June, RSL is 3-3-2.
Thus far, RSL has been able to carry momentum from midweek success into the weekend. Following the three Open Cup wins, RSL has gone 2-0-1, including wins over Kansas City and Houston.
