SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake hits the road this weekend, taking its unbeaten 2015 campaign to San Jose’s Avaya Stadium to face the Earthquakes Sunday afternoon, with TVcoverage kicking off nationally at 3:00 p.m. MT on ESPN2. Sunday’s match will also be broadcast locally on ESPN 700 AM (pre-game at 2:00p MT / post-game at 5:00p MT) and 102.3 La Gran D FM / 1600 AM.
Real Salt Lake (1-0-2, 5 points, t-4 West) is seeking back-to-back wins after a 2-1 home victory last Sunday against Toronto FC, with MF Javier Morales assisting on headers by MF Luke Mulholland (38’) and FW Jordan Allen (89’). Morales leads MLS in assists (3) after the first month of the season, despite playing one fewer game than most, while Allen’s game-winner last week marked the first goal of the 19-year old’s brief MLS career.
Head Coach Jeff Cassar welcomes back five players this week, as GK Nick Rimando (USA), FW Alvaro Saborio (CRC), DF Elias Vasquez (GUA), MF Luis Gil and DF Boyd Okwuonu (U.S. U-23) each return from international duty for their respective teams.
Rimando started both the 2-3 U.S.A. loss at Denmark and the 1-1 draw at Switzerland (playing only 45’), while Saborio started and played 60’ in the Ticos’ 0-0 draw v Paraguay before playing the final 30’ and scoring 6’ into his appearance against Panama. Gil wore the captain’s armband for the U-23’s in both a 5-2 win over Bosnia (3 assists) and an 0-1 loss at Denmark, playing a full 90’ in each match. Okwuonu also started both matches, playing 90’ + 75’ at right back, while Vasquez played the full 90’ in each Guatemala match.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ San Jose Earthquakes
• Coverage Begins: 3:00 p.m. MT
• TV: ESPN2 – Adrian Healey & Taylor Twellman
• English Radio: ESPN700 AM (2:00 p.m. MT) – Bill Riley, Jeremy Horton & Brian Kamler
• Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM / 1600 AM – Nelson Moran
• Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide match updates
Game Guide for Sunday’s RSL-SJ Match Now Available Online
Following is the link to the Adobe PDF version of the MLS Game Guide in advance of Sunday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes.
Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Game Guide for Sunday’s RSL-SJ matchup
RSL History v. San Jose Earthquakes
RSL is unbeaten in its last three trips to the Bay Area and has earned points in 6 of the last 8 visits, with the club’s all-time 4-4-4 record (11 MLS games, 1 Open Cup play-in match) on the road at San Jose second only to RSL’s 4-2-2 mark at New England (RSL also boasts a 2-1-4 mark all-comps at Portland).
A year ago, RSL won 2-0 at home against SJ, riding a Jeff Attinella clean sheet and goals from Ned Grabavoy and Sebastian Velasquez after earning 3-3 and 1-1 draws at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara earlier in the season.
In MLS and U.S. Open Cup competition since San Jose returned to the league in 2008, RSL has earned at least a point in 15 of the 20 contests between the clubs, dropping only a 1-2 match at Buck Shaw in 2009 prior to all three matches in 2012 and the ‘13 finale. RSL owns an all-time 9-7-8 mark against SJ in MLS and Open Cup play, including an 9-5-5 record since 2008 and a 4-4-4 mark in the Bay Area.
Three of Four April Games on the Road for RSL
RSL hits the road twice more this month after Easter, heading to Kansas City next Saturday – returning to the site of a heartbreaking MLS Cup 2013 shootout loss – and then heading to Foxborough, Mass., on Sat., April 25 seeking to extend the club’s 12-game unbeaten run against Eastern foes. RSL has enjoyed a perfect 2014/15 against East teams, with a 7-0-5 overall mark, outscoring the East 28-14, including a 5-0-1 home mark with a 14/4 goal differential.
Rio Tinto Stadium Busy as Monarchs, RSL Juggle Slates
While RSL’s lone home match of April occurs on Saturday the 18th against Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 p.m MT / KMYU), Rio Tinto Stadium hosts four USL matches this month, including the expansion Monarchs’ Inaugural Home Game this Wednesday, April 8, against Portland Timbers 2 (7:30 p.m. MT). The Monarchs – bridging the gap between RSL’s Arizona academy and the first team – continue at home on Sat., April 11 v Colorado Springs, Sat., April 25 against LA Galaxy II and on Wed., April 29 against Sacramento Republic FC, the defending USL champions. Please visit www.RealMonarchs.com for more info on tickets – starting at just $8 – and Head Coach Freddy Juarez’ team, which includes Utah’s own Garrett Losee and professionals from around the world.
