RSL Starting XI: USOC

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U.S. OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND
REAL SALT LAKE vs SPORTING KANSAS CITY (JUNE 6, 2018)

Starting XI: Connor Sparrow; Adam Henley, David Horst, Taylor Peay, Aaron Herrera; Pablo Ruiz, Nick Besler; Ricky Lopez-Espin, Jose Hernandez, Andrew Brody; Luis Silva.

Bench: Jake Leeker, Danilo Acosta, Brooks Lennon, Michael Gallagher, Sebastian Saucedo, Corey Baird, Alfredo Ortuno.

Lineup notes:

• The roster includes three players from Real Monarchs SLC on temporary contracts – FW Andrew Brody in the starting XI with GK Jake Leeker and DF Michael Gallagher on the bench.  To be eligible for the call-up, players must be under the age of 25 during the entire calendar year.
• Injury list: Jordan Allen (knee), Shawn Barry (knee), Tony Beltran (knee), Alex Horwath (Achilles), Luke Mulholland (back), Demar Phillips (ankle), Joao Plata (ribs).
• GK Connor Sparrow (23 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/0-0-0 (0-0-0)/Real Monarchs) – Has two shutouts in four matches with Real Monarchs in the USL after posting seven shutouts in 18 appearances last year to lead the Monarchs to the USL regular season title.  Making his first start in an RSL uniform.
• RB Adam Henley (Wales/2 caps/23 years old/5 game, 2 starts (5, 2)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Blackburn Rovers (England)) – Appeared in three straight matches from 4/7-21 and then consecutive matches from 5/12-19.  RSL is 3-2-0 in his five matches, winning all three substitute appearances.  Came to RSL after seven seasons with Blackburn Rovers in England.
• RCB Taylor Peay (26 years old/0 games, 0 starts (7, 4)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Real Monarchs) – Started three matches thus far for Real Monarchs SLC in the USL while on loan from RSL.  Salt Lake City native played 21 matches for the Monarchs in 2017.
• LCB David Horst (32 years old/5 games, 3 starts (148, 129)/0 goals, 0 assists (5, 4)/Houston Dynamo) – Last appeared for RSL against New York City FC on April 11.  RSL is 2-2-1 in his five appearances.
• LB Aaron Herrera (20 years old/1 game, 0 starts (1, 0)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/University of New Mexico) – Made his MLS debut against Seattle Sounders FC, coming off the bench to close out a 1-0 road win on May 26.
• CM Pablo Ruiz (Argentina/Chile/0 caps/19 years old/6 games, 4 starts (6, 4)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/San Luis (Chile)) – Played in six consecutive matches from 4/11-5/19.
• CM Nick Besler (24 years old/8 games, 5 starts (8, 5)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Real Monarchs) – Has three starts on loan with Real Monarchs SLC, where he captained the team to the USL regular season championship in 2017.  Started the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Sacramento Republic, getting the temporary call-up from the Monarchs for the match.
• RW Ricky Lopez-Espin (22 years old/1 game, 0 starts (1, 0)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Creighton University) –Real Salt Lake’s second round pick (33^rd overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft after scoring 30 goals in 74 matches at Creighton University.
• CAM Jose Hernandez (22 years old/0 games, 0 starts (7, 1)/0 goals, 0 assists (1, 0)/UCLA) – Has yet to make an appearance for Real Salt Lake in 2018.  Started in RSL’s lone match in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, playing 67 minutes against Sacramento.
• LW Andrew Brody (23 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Real Monarchs) – A current player for Real Monarchs SLC in the USL, where he has .  Appeared off the bench for RSL in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
• FW Luis Silva (29 years old/10 games, 7 starts (148, 106)/3 goals, 0 assists (30, 16)/Tigres (Mexico)) – Scored in his second consecutive match when he scored a long-range goal against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.  Now has three goals on the season, sharing second place on the team scoring charts with Joao Plata and Albert Rusnak.

Bench:

• GK Jake Leeker (22 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/Real Monarchs SLC) – Has four shutouts in five starts for Real Monarchs SLC in the USL, allowing just one goal while saving two penalties.
• DF Danilo Acosta (USA/0 caps/20 years old/5 games, 4 starts (22, 20)/0 goals, 1 assist (0, 3)/Real Salt Lake Academy/HGP) – Earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors for the second straight week after returning to the starting lineup for three straight matches in an eight-day stretch.
• DF Brooks Lennon (USA/0 caps/20 years old/13 games, 12 starts (36, 25)/0 goals, 2 assists (3, 6)/Liverpool (England)/HGP) – RSL is 7-4-0 in his 11 starts at right back with four shutouts.
• DF Michael Gallagher (23 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Real Monarchs) – In his second season with Real Monarchs SLC.  Has started in 10 of 12 appearances for the USL-leading Monarchs this season, including Monday night in a 2-0 win over Rio Grande Valley.
• FW Sebastian Saucedo (21 years old/10 games, 3 starts (38, 9)/1 goal, 3 assists (1, 5)/Real Salt Lake Academy) – Has one goal and three assists in the last four league matches.
• FW Corey Baird (22 years old/12 games, 8 starts (12, 8)/4 goals, 1 assist (4, 1)/Stanford/HGP) – Shares the team lead with four goals, getting back on the score sheet against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.
• FW Alfredo Ortuno (27 years old/3 games, 1 start (3, 1)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Cadiz (Spain)/TAM) – Made his first MLS start against the Red Bulls on March 17.  Last appeared on April 11 against New York City FC.  Came to RSL after scoring 17 goals in 40 matches in the 2016-17 season for Cadiz in Spain.