Storylines to Watch: RSL at Seattle Sounders FC

The forward dilemma

For the first time this year, Real Salt Lake has a full arsenal of healthy and available forwards for head coach Jeff Cassar to choose from for Friday’s critical clash at Seattle Sounders FC. Head coach Jeff Cassar will have a difficult decision to make with Joao Plata, Olmes Garcia, Robbie Findley, Sebastian Jaime and now Alvaro Saborio all up for selection. Devon Sandoval and Benji Lopez are both healthy but are unlikely to appear as Sandoval is currently on a short-term loan with North Carolina Railhawks and Lopez has yet to see any first time minutes.

Friday’s match at CenturyLink Field will provide an opportunity for RSL to gain much needed ground in the Supporters’ Shield race, so choosing the best pair to start will be imperative. RSL’s 2-1 win over FC Dallas saw Robbie Findley notch his first goal of the year, making his case to earn a second-straight start on Friday. The match also saw the MLS debut of Argentine striker Sebastian Jaime who subbed on in the 67^th minute, and the return of Alvaro Saborio who scored the game-winner just 14 seconds after entering the match in the 76^th minute. RSL’s 2014 leading goal scorer and regular starter Joao Plata will be back from international duty with Ecuador, but after playing last Saturday and a week of travel, might serve as an option off the bench.

After dealing with multiple injuries and international absences, Real Salt Lake now has a plethora of dangerous attackers. With the positive development come new challenges, as finding out how best to use them will be the Claret-and-Cobalt’s next big task.

Will RSL be able to quell the deadly duo of Dempsey and Martins?

Real Salt Lake will likely face the lethal forward duo of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins for the first time on Friday. Seattle Sounders FC was without Dempsey in the clubs’ first meeting of the year on May 31 due to international duty, which saw the Cascadia club end RSL’s 12-game unbeaten start to the season with a 4-0 thumping at CenturyLink Field. In the clubs’ second encounter on Aug. 16, RSL pulled off a 2-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium in a match that did not feature Martins who was serving a red card suspension.

Dempsey and Martins have been incredibly dangerous this year with Martins leading the Seattle club in goals and assists with 12 tallies and nine helpers. Dempsey has also been fruitful this year, notching 11 goals and six assists on the season. Dempsey and Martins have a combined total of 18 goals scored when on the field together, with the U.S. Men’s National team Captain only scoring this year when Martins is playing. The Cascadia club has been prolific on a whole, notching a total of 48 goals this season, second most in the league behind LA Galaxy.

Real Salt Lake will have to be especially wary of the dynamic pair on Seattle’s home turf, with the Sounders unbeaten in its last four games at CenturyLink Field. The Pacific Northwest side enters Friday’s match on a three-game win streak and four-game unbeaten run.

Major implications for Supporters’ Shield

Real Salt Lake will be looking for three points on Friday, as the race for the Supporters’ Shield heats up with just seven games remaining in the regular season. Real Salt Lake will need rack up points if it is to remain a contender, with Seattle sitting first with 51 points and 16 wins, followed by L.A. with 49 points and 14 wins and then D.C. United with 47 points and 14 wins. Seattle, L.A. and D.C. all claim higher goal differentials – the second tiebreaker if even on points and number of wins at the end of the season. The Claret-and-Cobalt has found measured success at Seattle, posting a 2-3-2 regular season record at CenturyLink Field.

Supporters’ Shield Standings as of 9/10