SANDY, Utah (Monday, July 9, 2018) – For the third consecutive season, Real Salt Lake (9-8-2, 29 pts., 4th West) hosts a high-profile international friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium, welcoming German Cup champions Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday for an 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff. Following in the recent Utah footsteps of Manchester United (2017) and Internazionale Milano (2016), Eintracht Frankfurt – featuring former USMNT player Timmy Chandler – arrived in Utah on Saturday, spending most of the week at the club’s Zions Bank Real Academy Training Center in preparation for their U.S. tour. Tickets for Tuesday’s match remain available atwww.RSL.com/Tickets.
Presented locally by the Utah Sports Commission, the Eagles – winners of the German Cup earlier this year, and Bundesliga stalwarts – make their first trip to Utah, joining a list of top-flight international clubs to visit the Beehive State to face RSL. Last year’s Manchester United (England) exhibition followed Real Madrid (Spain) in 2006 (Rice-Eccles Stadium), Everton (England) in 2007/09 and Internazionale Milano (Italy) in 2016 (Rio Tinto Stadium). RSL also boasts a long history of hosting regional CONCACAF powers Club América (Mexico) in 2008, Saprissa (Costa Rica) in 2011, Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) in 2008, as well as South American clubsBoca Juniors (Argentina) in 2007 and Universidad Católica (Chile) in 2005, among others.
For the third consecutive Summer, Real Salt Lake faces a European side at the world-class Utah venue, with tickets remaining in the venue affectionately known as “the RioT,” with a capacity of 20,138. Remaining tickets start at just $10, increasing in value depending on location and available hospitality packages, details of which can be viewed by visitingwww.RSL.com/tickets or by calling 844.Real.Tix for more information).
Head Coach Mike Petke’s team improved to 8-1-1 at home this season in Major League Soccer action with a pair of RioT wins last week over the top two teams in the Western Conference, defeating rival Sporting KC, 4-2, on Wednesday night, prior to Saturday’s 2-0 victory over FC Dallas. The pair of wins extended the club’s home unbeaten run to nine straight dating back to the 2018 home opener, while RSL is now 17-5-4 at home in MLS action during the Petke era. The recent run has seen RSL outscore visitors 20-7 during the nine-game unbeaten streak, with RSL next hosting Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado on July 21at Rio Tinto Stadium (8:00 p.m. MT) in celebration of Pioneer Day Weekend, replete with post-game fireworks.
In the back-to-back MLS victories, RSL featured contributions from all over the roster, including four of the six goals scored by players aged 23 or younger: FW Jefferson Savarino, FW Corey Baird, FW Sebastian Saucedo and MF Albert Rusnák. Two additional goals were scored by FW Luis Silva, while GK Nick Rimando extended his MLS marks for career shutouts (142) and career wins (205).
An MLS-record six former RSL Academy players featured in Saturday’s 2-0 win, as Baird and Saucedo were joined by DF Justen Glad, DF Brooks Lennon, DF Danny Acosta and DF Aaron Herrera to equal the record set by RSL earlier this year on May 25 in a 1-0 road win at Seattle. Dallas started five homegrowns of their own Saturday, making the match the first in MLS’ 23-year history with 10 homegrown starters and 11 player appearances.
Real Salt Lake – 12 points ahead of last year’s pace, which did not see the club attain its 29th point until August 13 – returns to league play on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the first of five games against team below the playoff line from now through mid-August. The Claret-and-Cobalt has enjoyed a prominent home-field advantage since building its permanent home known as “The RioT,” boasting a dominant 114-28-45 mark in the world-class venue since opening in October, 2008.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. Eintracht Frankfurt – Tues., July 10, 2018
- Coverage Begins: Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. MT
- Local TV: n/a
- Digital Streaming: KSL TV app / KSL.com
- English Radio: ESPN 700 AM (7:00 p.m. MT) – Bill Riley & Jay Nolly w/ Tom Hackett & Spencer Warne (pre-/post-game)
- Spanish Radio: 104.7 /107.1 FM – Fernando Hortal, German Hortal & Carlos Artiles