Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake
MLS Regular Season
Saturday, August 16; 11:30 am PT; Rio Tinto Stadium
TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
Salt Lake’s Record: RSL is second in the West at 10-4-9 (39 points), just two points behind Seattle (13-6-2).
Head-To-Head: Sounders FC won the only previous meeting this season, 4-0, at CenturyLink Field on May 31. The series concludes on September 12 at CenturyLink Field.
All-Time Series: RSL holds a 5-4-4 edge in regular season matches. However the series levels out at 6-6-5 including the playoffs and Seattle takes the lead in the all-time all-competition series at 7-6-5 with a win in the Open Cup qualification round in 2009.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: D Damion Lowe (Hip Surgery); F Kevin Parsemain (ACL Tear); D Dylan Remick (L Adductor Strain). QUESTIONABLE: None. Real Salt Lake – OUT: F Jordan Allen (Knee); F Alvaro Saborio (R Foot); M John Stertzer (R Tibia); D Rich Balchan (Adductor). QUESTIONABLE: None.
Key Player: Goalkeeper Nick Rimando set the MLS record with his 133th career shutout last week against D.C. United. In 11 career regular season matches against Seattle, he has a 0.91 goals against average and picked up five shutouts along the way. In four playoff matches against the Sounders, he has two shutouts and a 0.75 goals against average. This season the “Wall of the Wasatch” is 9-1-5 with five clean sheets and a 1.00 goals against average.
Notes: This is the third consecutive regular season meeting between the two clubs when they have been first and second in the Western Conference. Seattle won both previous matchups. … Sounders FC has scored 20 of its 37 goals in the final 30 minutes of the match this season while Salt Lake has scored 17 of its 36 goals in the first 30 minutes. … Sounders FC will play without forward Obafemi Martins, who is serving a red card suspension after picking up two yellow cards in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
