Real
Salt Lake Match Notes v. Red Bulls
- Tonight’s win improved Real Salt Lake’s record in MLS play to 11-1-6 across its last 18 matches, the lone loss occurring on the road at FC Dallas back in July. RSL is now 9-0-3 at home this season, with its last loss at Rio Tinto Stadium coming all the way back on May 16, 2009 v. Kansas City (0-2 L).
- The triumph also allowed Real Salt Lake to set new single-season records in points (43) and wins (12), and shutouts (11), despite the fact that seven regular season games remain on the team’s 2010 slate.
- Real Salt Lake will look to claim the home undefeated streak for itself on Saturday, Sept. 18, when the Claret-and-Cobalt will welcome the Chicago Fire to Sandy for a 2:00 p.m. MT matinee.
- With his sixth tally of the season, Espindola tied MF Javier Morales for second on RSL’s scoring chart in League play, the Argentine duo trailing only FW Álvaro Saborío and his eight markers in MLS action.
- Espíndola would be subbed out after 50 minutes due to a strained left hamstring, putting his status for RSL’s next contest on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Seattle Sounders FC in doubt.
- The contest at Seattle will mark RSL’s first visit to Qwest Field since last November’s MLS Cup triumph. Fans will be able to follow the match-up between two of the League’s hottest sides on ESPN2 next Thursday (9:00 p.m. MT kickoff).
- The assist for Morales was his seventh on the campaign, pulling him into a four-way tie for seventh place across the League in the category.
- Saborío (Costa Rica) and MF Will Johnson (Canada) were absent for tonight’s contest while serving on national team duty for their respective countries this weekend. Saborío scored the equalizer and went the full 90 minutes for the Ticos in their 2-2 draw at Panama last evening and traveled with the squad to Jamaica for Sunday’s tilt against the Reggae Boyz in Kingston. Johnson started for Canada in its 0-2 defeat to Peru at BMO Field in Toronto, and is expected to see more action on Tuesday when the Maple Leafs take on Honduras at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium. Both Saborío and Johnson will be available for RSL when it travels to Seattle for Thursday’s ESPN2 “MLS Game of the Week” showdown.
