After running the gauntlet of three home matches against the top three teams in the Western Conference and emerging with a 2-0-1 record against FC Dallas, the Colorado Rapids and the LA Galaxy, things don’t get any easier for Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Just three days after a dramatic stoppage-time goal from Juan Manuel Martinez preserved a point for RSL in a 3-3 draw with the Galaxy, the Claret-and-Cobalt will meet the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers at Providence Park in the club’s first road match in nearly a month.
With Portland fighting for playoff contention, it’s another in a long line of contentious matches as RSL closes out the final two months of the regular season.
“You look at the schedule we have remaining and every game is going to be meaningful,” RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar said. “That’s what you want. You want the guys to be playing in meaningful games and it doesn’t take a lot of extra encouragement from me for these guys to know what’s at stake.”
Real Salt Lake will be a bit diminished, as the club got word Friday that defender Jamison Olave would not be available on Saturday due to suspension. Coupled with Aaron Maund’s foot injury that has kept him out of action since early August and Cassar’s roster options were starting to dwindle. However, defenders Chris Schuler and Justen Glad both could be available on Saturday to bolster the center back depth and Sunday Stephen is nearing his return as well.
That will be a big boost for RSL, particularly against a team with talented players like Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi and Darlington Nagbe to contend with. RSL will be mindful of those weapons, particularly in the early stages of the match, when Salt Lake has gotten into the habit of allowing early goals of late.
“They’ve got a bunch of quality players and with the atmosphere there, we can’t let them get an early one because they get momentum going,” Glad said. “We’ve got to come out stronger. It’s tough fighting back when you’re a goal down, so we’ve just got to come out with the mentality that we’re not going to get scored on early.”
In addition to the pressure of needing to stage a comeback, another reason for RSL’s focus on the first 15 minutes of the match is the always raucous Portland crowd. The last three MLS home games for the Timbers have produced two dominating victories over the Seattle Sounders and a third against Sporting Kansas City.
“They’re very good at home. And you don’t just have to deal with their team, you have to deal with their crowd,” Cassar said. “We want to make sure at the beginning of the game that we’re taking them out of the game. It really gives them energy and they’re able to get momentum and when they get going, they’re tough.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s match is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT.
