With Open Cup in sight, RSL continues balancing act


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — After Saturday's 4-0 loss at Vancouver in Major League Soccer play that featured a split-squad starting XI, it's understandable why Real Salt Lake would want to move forward to Wednesday night's U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Sporting Kansas City.

Outside of MLS play, RSL is unbeaten on the season — and hopes to keep it that way when the clubs kick off at 6:30 p.m. MT at Sporting Park.

"When you step outside the league, especially because we haven't been doing as well as we'd like, and you put us in a do-or-die situation, that brings out the best in everybody," RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella said. "It's a nice break from the league. When there is something else to play for, it's a good breath of fresh air. So far, we've done well in that."

Attinella was in goal during the 4-0 loss when starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando was among a handful of players who did not make the trip from Salt Lake City to Vancouver over the weekend. Instead, those players were resting and recovering from an 11,000-mile, 15-day road trip that includes Wednesday's match and will bring them home for Saturday's league contest against Portland.

Optimal rest and recovery is at a premium during the trip, head coach Jeff Cassar said.

"I expect the team to be extremely hungry and full of energy and ready to go," Cassar said after Saturday's match. "To travel (to Vancouver) and then out again on Wednesday, it can't happen [playing three times in one week]. It would be foolish, it would be risking injury and I have confidence in every player on our team. This is the team we chose, we have to live with it and move on from the past and go after a win in Kansas City."

RSL is one win away from its second Open Cup final in three years and would face the winner of Chicago and Philadelphia on Sept. 30. Chicago would host RSL or Sporting KC, and RSL would host Philadelphia if both teams win in the semifinals.

Balancing multiple competitions, including CONCACAF Champion's League, has been a tough task for an RSL team that has played 27 of its 28 players on the roster in 2015. But with a cup title in sight, it's no time to let up.

"It's been tough, but it's something we've done a lot of all year," defender Aaron Maund said. "We've played a lot of games with all these competitions that we're in and we're going to continue to do the right things off the field like I said and try to get ourselves in the best spot."

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsReal Salt Lake
Sean Walker

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast