THIS WEEK AT RSL
Week of March 25 - March 30
Real Salt Lake
RSL fell to 1-2-1 (4 points) with a 2-1 loss on the road against LAFC on Saturday at Banc of California Stadium. With eight of the club’s top 18 players out of action due to international call-ups, injuries and suspensions, Head Coach Mike Petke turned to the depth of the squad and some tactical shifts to combat a strong LAFC roster. Among six RSL Academy products to start the match – an MLS record - defender Erik Holt and forward Tate Schmitt each made their MLS debuts. Coming off the bench, midfielder and Academy product Luis Arriaga also made his MLS debut along with former Real Monarchs midfielder Justin Portillo.
In a hard-fought match, it took a deflected goal in stoppage time to prevent RSL from escaping with a point. Damir Kreilach scored his first goal of the season, converting a penalty earned by Bofo Saucedo, while Nick Rimando made five saves in a losing effort.
On the international stage, Albert Rusnák had a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win for Slovakia in the first match of 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifying over Hungary, then played 90 minutes in the second match on Sunday, a 1-0 loss to Wales. Sam Johnson also played 90 minutes in Liberia’s 1-0 loss in African Cup of Nations qualifying against DR Congo on Sunday. Meanwhile Corey Baird was on the bench for a 1-0 win for the U.S. in a friendly against Ecuador. The U.S. meets Chile at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Tuesday (5:55 MT, ESPN2). In youth international action, Julian Vazquez scored a goal in the first match for the Mexican U-18s against Russia in Dubai and continued action through the weekend.
RSL returns to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday to face FC Dallas in a Western Conference clash. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT and the match will be broadcast live on KMYU and streamed on the KSL TV app and KSL.com, with radio coverage on ESPN700.
Utah Royals FC
Utah Royals FC just finished its third week of preseason with two dominating results against college opponents in southern California.
With an international break looming, URFC had two players – Becky Sauerbrunn and Christen Press - called to the U.S. National Team for upcoming World Cup tune-up matches. In addition, Rachel Corsie has been called in for Scotland and Katie Bowen was called in for New Zealand. More announcements should be coming down this week as more players are brought in for international duty.
The team returns to Utah to train this week in further preparations for opening the 2019 season at Rio Tinto Stadium against the Washington Spirit on April 20.
Real Monarchs SLC
The Monarchs (1-0-2, 5 points) earned the first win of the 2019 season under Head Coach Martin Vasquez with a 5-0 trouncing of LA Galaxy II at Zions Bank Stadium. David Ochoa earned his second consecutive shutout while the Monarchs got two goals from Maikel Chang and one each from Ricardo Avila, Lionel Abate Etoundi and Steve Jasso, who was making his professional debut. Ochoa, an RSL Academy product signed to RSL and on loan to the Monarchs, has allowed just one goal through three matches for the Monarchs this season.
In total, two RSL Academy products made their professional debuts for the Monarchs as Jasso and Jordan Pena each featured in the match. Pena made his first start and played the full 90 minutes for the Monarchs. Through three matches in 2019, evidence of the RSL Academy product’s impact on the team is great as the Monarchs continue to provide a steady pipeline between the Academy and RSL.
The Monarchs will look to carry that momentum into a road matchup with Las Vegas Lights FC as it re-ignites the I-15 Rivalry on Saturday at Cashman Field (8:30 p.m. MT, ESPN+).
RSL Academy
The RSL Academy hosted its fourth of seven straight home matches to end the 2019 regular season as both teams picked up convincing wins over Strikers FC at the Zions Bank Training Center.
The U-17s opened the day with a convincing 3-0 win over Strikers, earning goals from Bode Davis, Christopher Garcia and Abel Mendoza. In goal, Brennan Klein earned the shutout in goal to help push RSL into fourth place in the U.S.S.D.A. Southwest Division with a 10-7-2 (32 points record).
In the second match of the day, the U-19s also claimed a dominant three-goal to beat Strikers FC 4-1. RSL saw a brace from Ben Ortiz lead the way as Sergio Martinez Leal and Braxton Taghvai-Najib also tallied in the victory. The RSL Academy U-19s now sit firmly in first place in the U.S.S.D.A. Southwest Division standings with an 11-3-5 (38 points) record and are now four points clear of FC Golden State and seven points clear of the Barca Academy.
Next up for both sides is a bout with Crossfire Premier from Washington state on March 30. The U-17s will open proceedings at 11:30a MT at the Zions Bank Real Academy. After its match against Crossfire, the U-17s will turn its attention to the Generation adidas Cup held in Frisco Texas from April 13-20 where it will play in the tournament’s top flight with other MLS Academy sides, the Championship Division. On March 30, the U-19s will kick off at 1:00p MT at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman.
RSL Foundation
The Foundation will be at Rose Creek Elementary School on Thursday for the latest installment in the Scoring for Schools program with two more schools adding their names to the list of beneficiaries of the program next week.
