Sounders FC v Real Salt Lake (Match Preview)

Sounders FC v Real Salt Lake March 28 Kick off 7.30

Referee: Baldomero Toledo. Assistants: Darren Clark and Jeff Hosking

RSL Open Campaign as Sounders Face Bigger Test

Sounders FC began their life as a MLS club with a resounding 3-0 thumping of last year’s runners-up, New York Red Bulls. But to conclude that it gets easier now, would be erroneous and dangerous. New York were weakened and disorganised, not to mention coming into the unknown. Real Salt Lake on the other hand are among many people’s favourites for the Western Conference this year. Coach Jason Kreis will have studied Seattle’s game in full. There’s nothing about either Fredy Montero or Freddie Ljungberg he won’t already know. And he has some decent players of his own.

Clint Mathis Heads the List of Known Capables

Veteran forward Clint Mathis is probably the best known name on the side. The man with 245 MLS games under his belt, scoring 64 goals has seen it all in the MLS. Now 32, he will be supported up front by the 21-year-old Californian, Yura Movsisyan. Most of the supporting cast from last season are returning with Javier Morales, Jamison Olave and Chris Wingert all re-signed to long-term contracts over the past few months. Robbie Russell and Nat Borchers are also probable starters but Ian Joy will be missing.

They will be joined by the dangerously coiffured Kyle Beckerman from midfield. With his semi-grunge hairdo, many in a Seattle crowd might empathise, but Beckerman is all business on the pitch and has been a been a regular starter in his previous five MLS seasons. Known as a gritty hardworker who demands the same of his colleagues, Beckerman’s presence will assure the Sounders midfield have an even tougher battle to control the game than they did against New York.

Statistically their dangermen will be Yura Movsisyan who scored seven last year from 69 shots of which 33 landed on target, while Javier Morales led the way creatively with 15 assists. Morales was also Salt Lake’s most fouled player (59) and most fouled (49) in 2008. The 29-year-old Argentinian is sure to be right in the thick of the action on Saturday night, and along with Beckerman will provide a busy night for Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans in Seattle’s midfield trenches.

22-year-old midfielder Raphael Cox is a native of Tacoma but didn’t play in the MLS last season.

Recent Form

Sounders won their only competitive game in their history but for once they aren’t the newest kid on the block. RSL are opening their 2009 campaign but there is some pre-season form to go on. The Utah side have won seven of their nine pre-season games and drew another, outscoring opposition 25-5. They beat MLS sides, DC United 3-0 and Toronto FC 2-1, in the only meetings with top class opposition. In their last match they beat the side that replaced Seattle Sounders in the USL, the Austin Aztex 3-1. Incidentally, referee Baldomero Toledo is known as the “Card King” among MLS fans. He has a reputation for giving out the most cards among MLS refs.

Injury News

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
OUT: DF Taylor Graham (left sesamoid fracture); GK Chris Eylander (right knee PCL sprain); MF Peter Vagenas (knee surgery); FW Jarrod Smith (International Duty)

PROBABLE: MF Freddie Ljungberg (left hip); MF Sanna Nyassi (L
hamstring strain)

REAL SALT LAKE
OUT: FW Luis Miguel Escalada (R ankle sprain); DF Ian Joy (L hamstring strain);

QUESTIONABLE: DF Robbie Russell (R rotator cuff surgery);

PROBABLE: DF Tony Beltran (L hamstring strain); FW Robbie
Findley (L quadriceps strain); FW Tino Nuñez (R meniscus surgery)

Prost Amerika will bring you its Award Winning match report immediately after the game and more news, photos and analysis the following day as the experts take it all in.

RSL Form

Salt Lake finished a creditable third in the Western Conference last year, with ten wins, ten draws and ten defeats. Their away record was their Achilles heel with only two wins on the road. Nevertheless they clinched a play off place and beat Chivas USA 3-2 on aggregate. However a 28th minute Dave van den Berg goal gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 win at the Rio Tinto to eliminate them. Incidentally the referee that day was none other than Jair Marrufo who took charge of Sounders FC’s opening game last week.

Stadium Facts

Qwest Field has a lower bowl with a 24,500 capacity, but that capacity has been raised to 27,000 for Sounders games against New York. Tickets for this game are expected to be sold out. Sounders second opponents are Real Salt Lake. They play at the Rio Tinto Stadium which opened last year. The 20,000 capacity stadium, located in Sandy Utah, will host of the 2009 MLS All-Star Game.

RSL – The Fans

The Loyalists are their main fan club. They are to be found in sections 11 and 12 at the Rio Tinto singing, drumming and making noise. Sources tell Prost Amerika that around 50 Loyalists and members of the Rogue Cavaliers Brigade are making their way to Seattle from Salt Lake City for the game.

For another match preview, visit the excellent Sounder at Heart website.

Real Salt Lake’s Official Preview