MATCH 1: REAL SALT LAKE AT FC DALLAS (MARCH 3, 2018)
Starting XI: Nick Rimando; Shawn Barry, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Demar Phillips; Kyle Beckerman ©, Damir Kreilach; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Luis Silva.
Bench: Alex Horwath, Danny Acosta, David Horst, Sunny, Luke Mulholland, Sebastian Saucedo, Alfredo Ortuno.
Lineup notes:
This is the first meeting of the season between RSL and FC Dallas. Dallas won both meetings last season, 6-2 in Frisco on June 3 and 3-0 in Sandy on May 6.
Head Coach Mike Petke will be without several options at right back due to injury. Tony Beltran (knee) will be a long-term absence, but all three newly-signed players who were brought in to add depth and competition in that role – Adam Henley (hamstring), Aaron Herrera (quad) and Taylor Peay (knee) are out with short-term injuries. Even Jordan Allen (knee) is a potential option there that will not be available in the near future. So Petke will turn to Shawn Barry in that spot and while he is primarily a center back, his speed makes him versatile enough to fill the role.
- GK Nick Rimando – In his 12th season, Rimando is making his 308th start for RSL, a club record. He has a mark of 130-98-79 in his RSL career.
- RB Shawn Barry – Making his MLS debut, the 27-year-old defender played his previous seven pro seasons in Austria, Germany and Poland.
- RCB Marcelo Silva – Making his 10th start for RSL after joining in midseason in 2017. Salt Lake is 4-0-3 when he plays 90 minutes and holds a 0.69 goals against average when he’s on the field.
- LCB Justen Glad – At just 21 years old (as of Wednesday), he is already in his fifth MLS season after earning his first callup to the U.S. National Team for January camp this year.
- LB Demar Phillips – In his fourth season with Real Salt Lake, Phillips was a standout in preseason. His best MLS season thus far came in 2016 when he had five assists in 29 matches. Injuries limited him to 13 appearances in 2017.
- DM Kyle Beckerman – The captain returns for his 12th season with RSL and 19th in MLS. Of his 40 goals and 49 assists in his career, 29 goals and 33 assists have come with RSL.
- CM Damir Krielach – Making his MLS debut after spending the last five seasons with Union Berlin in the German second division.
- RW Jefferson Savarino – Had six goals and five assists in his first MLS season. He made his debut for Venezuela in a June friendly against the U.S. National Team at Rio Tinto Stadium.
- CAM Albert Rusnák – Led MLS in primary assists in 2017 and was RSL’s Golden Boot winner with seven goals and 14 assists.
- LW Joao Plata – With 37 goals and 35 assists since coming to RSL in a trade with Toronto FC in 2013, Plata has seen his top two seasons for games started and minutes played in the last two years. That consistency earned him a spot back with the Ecuador National Team.
- FW Luis Silva – A key player in the second half of 2017, Silva shared the team lead with seven goals – his most since scoring 11 with D.C. United in 2014.
Storylines:
· RSL’s first preseason under Mike Petke.
· Offseason additions look to bolster the roster of a team that missed the postseason by 1 point in 2017.
· Unbeaten in the last eight season openers at 5-0-3
· Beckerman and Rimando back for their 12th seasons with RSL
