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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SANDY — Real Salt Lake will take the pitch for the third time in eight days Saturday afternoon as it takes on Major League Soccer Eastern Conference opponent the Montreal Impact in Canada fresh off its comeback 2-1 victory in Boston on Wednesday.
The Claret and Cobalt will enter the match 5-4-2 on the season with 17 points and sitting in the second slot in the MLS Western Conference. Montreal will enter the match 5-2-2 on the season and also with 17 points.
Fresh off its midweek win over the New England Revolution and last weekend's 2-0 victory at home over the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Salt Lake club sits with a two-game win streak for the first time this season going into Saturday’s match. The Canadian based club is fresh off a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls and a 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes in the last week.
In addition to it being the Salt Lake club’s third game in eight days, heading into Saturday’s match the Salt Lake club’s injury list isn’t getting any shorter from earlier in the week. RSL still lists its leading scorer forward Alvaro Saborio (right quad tear) and forwards Robbie Findley (left knee hyperextension) and Olmes Garcia (right adductor strain) as questionable for the match.
However, Garcia logged 22 minutes on Wednesday at New England as he was subbed in for forward Joao Plata in the 68th minute. Garcia went on to score the Salt Lake club’s game-winning goal in the 89th minute.
The Salt Lake club could also be without defenders Rich Balchan (left shoulder separation), Nat Borchers (influenza) and midfielders Cole Grossman (concussion) and Yordany Alvarez (right ankle contusion) as they are also listed as questionable for Saturday.
Despite the injury list, a bit of good news surfaced late Friday as RSL defender Carlos Salcedo became eligible for selection for Saturday’s lineup at Montreal after the MLS expunged the second yellow card shown to him in Wednesday’s match, which ejected him from the match in the second half and gave him a one-game suspension. The second yellow card, which the league stated was a case of a mistaken identity, was reissued to RSL defender Tony Beltran after review by the league.
Following Saturday’s match in Montreal, the Salt Lake club will return home for the first time in a week as it prepares to finish up its three-game road trip at Chivas USA on May 19. RSL will then return to its fortress, Rio Tinto Stadium, for a four-game homestand where it will host the Chicago Fire May 25, the San Jose Earthquakes June 1, the Los Angeles Galaxy June 8 and the Seattle Sounders June 22.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
