Five Reasons You Should Come To #RSLvSEA This Saturday

Last year, Real Salt Lake recorded 17 consecutive sell-out crowds at America First Field en route to a 9-4-3 record at home, capped by a Decision Day win to clinch a playoff berth. It’s no secret that our fans can turn the Riot into a fortress, a place that any opposing team should fear.

That streak began with the home opener on March 5th against Seattle Sounders FC, a tightly-contested 1-0 win to the good guys. This Saturday, the Sounders come to town again in what should be an epic, must-see Western Conference showdown. 

School is almost out, the team is coming off a big win at home, and the expected temperature at kickoff is 72 degrees. But if you need any more reason to come, we’ve helped you out.

1. Home Cookin’

As Real Salt Lake searches for its third-consecutive home win of the season, Pablo Mastroeni and co. do so against a Seattle team who’s only won once in Utah in Club history.

You heard that right.

Despite a fairly even overall head-to-head record (RSL holds a narrow lead at 15-13-5), the Claret-and-Cobalt are near-perfect when defending the Riot against the Sounders. In 15 matches at home, Real Salt Lake have won eleven times, with just one loss. In those fifteen matches, RSL has outscored Seattle 25-9.

The last (and only) time Seattle took three points in Sandy?

May 28th, 2011. To give some context for how long it has been, here are a few fun facts:

• Current Real Monarchs Head Coach Jámison Olave was sent off in that match, and current RSL Assistant GM Tony Beltran was the starting right back alongside him.

• RSL’s 2023 leading goal scorer **Jefferson Savarino** was 14 years old. Luis Rivera, the youngest player currently on contract, was just three years old.

• America First Field was in its third full season.

• HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones premiered, Adele’s Rolling in the Deep was released, and the first ever Thor movie was in theaters.

Needless to say, RSL comes into Saturday with history behind them.

2. Gómez Está Bailando 

**Andrés Gómez** made headlines before the start of the season after signing with Real Salt Lake for the largest transfer fee in Club history. In eight matches played, the 20-year-old Colombian has made five starts after settling into the RSL attack. He’s tied for the team lead in assists with three, and scored his first MLS goal last Saturday against San Jose, an absolute screamer from outside the box that kissed off the inside post and in.

If his recent form isn’t enough to draw your attention, then his dancing should be.

After scoring his first goal, Gómez showed off some pretty slick moves (albeit quite unique), something he has been working on as much as he has his skills on the field.

3. Long Range Lightning  

Speaking of goals from outside the 18-yard-box, the Sounders and Real Salt Lake are tied with two other teams for second-most in the league with three. Alongside Gómez, Jefferson Savarino also showed off his range, curling a beautiful bender around the keeper just inside the far post against San Jose. **Pablo Ruiz** started the party from downtown, going bar down on a left-footed shot in a 3-1 win over Charlotte on April 8.

4. A Former Captain (And Coach) Return

Longtime RSL midfielder Albert Rusnák returns to Sandy for just the second time as a visiting player. In his first match at America First Field in green, Rusnák was booked for time wasting and subbed off in the 66th minute in a 1-0 loss last March (because, as pointed out before, Seattle hasn’t won in Utah since 2011). 

The Slovakian native made his MLS debut with the Claret-and-Cobalt back in 2017, when he finished the season with 14 assists, fourth-most in the league. In 140 appearances with RSL, the former captain scored 41 goals, as well as a memorable strike in the first leg of the 2018 Western Conference Semifinal against Sporting Kansas City. Former RSL assistant and head coach Freddy Juarez, now an assistant with Seattle, will also be returning to Salt Lake County. 

Welcome back, old friends.

5. Something’s Gotta Give

Stefen Frei and the Sounders have recorded five clean sheets this season, tied for the league best thus far. One of those five includes a 2-0 victory at Lumen Field against Real Salt Lake last month. Frei has the second-best Goals Against Average in the league at 0.78. Seattle also has the second highest positive goal differential with 10, having only conceded seven goals in their first nine matches. 

Real Salt Lake on the other hand has scored eight goals in their last six matches, including six in the last two games at America First Field, with a goal differential of +4 in those matches. 

Can Savarino and Gómez get the best of Frei? Will RSL take a chop at Seattle’s goal differential? 

Either way, something has to give on Saturday night. And you’ll want to be there to see it happen. Get your tickets, here.