Real Salt Lake is back from arguably its most successful road trip of the 2015 season, earning three points in Houston against the Dynamo and adding one more point in a scoreless draw in El Salvador against Santa Tecla FC in CONCACAF Champions League play.
The results put RSL in position to remain in contention for the MLS Cup Playoffs and in control of Group G in Champions League. That was accomplished through some roster shuffling to keep the team fresh amidst a busy stretch of five matches in 16 days, leaving Head Coach Jeff Cassar to start 21 different players in the two matches.
“We knew it was going to be an extremely tough, physical game that was really a midfield battle. It’s a short turnaround and you’ve got to be smart,” Cassar said in his weekly segment on The Bill & OC Show on ESPN 700 on Wednesday. “Everybody wants to throw out your big guns, but you have to worry about fatigue. If you look back on it, you’ll take four points on the first two road games of Champions League in a heartbeat.”
RSL is in a good run of form of late, even if the results haven’t always been what the team is looking for. But dating back to a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on August 15, RSL has played some of its best soccer, due in large part to a consistent defensive effort that has limited opponents’ chances.
Keeping that defensive discipline will be key down the stretch, according to Cassar.
“We’ve got to keep concentrating on getting the zero – getting the shutout. And then being good with the ball and making good choices,” he said.
Next up for RSL is a contentious match against the LA Galaxy, against whom matches have been tight in all three meetings this season.
In the Galaxy, RSL finds a team that has reached some its highest highs in recent matches, but also been shutout in two straight contests against the San Jose Earthquakes and Montreal Impact. However, with Giovani Dos Santos and Steven Gerrard in tow, the Galaxy will always be a dangerous foe.
“I still think they’re searching with their full complement of players on exactly how they are going to be most successful. Obviously they’re extremely talented and extremely dangerous on the counter-attack,” Cassar said. “But after looking at video on them over the last few days, there are definitely areas to get at them. It’s going to be a day where we are going have to be good, on both sides of the ball. But if we are, I really like our chances.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT with tv coverage on KMYU and the radio broadcast on ESPN 700. To hear the full interview, click here.
