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SANDY — Following a 13-day break from MLS action, Real Salt Lake returns to Rio Tinto Stadium tonight to host Western Conference opponent FC Dallas.
FC Dallas enters Rio Tinto on an eight-game winless streak — including RSL’s visit to FC Dallas Stadium in late April — and RSL is ready to be back in action and is focused on extending its five-game unbeaten streak.
“This is an opportunity to keep pushing forward,” said RSL assistant coach C.J. Brown. “We finished off on a good note and you want to continue into that.”
FC Dallas also enters Rio Tinto fresh off a match this past Wednesday and RSL is looking to use that to its advantage.
“Now you take a team like Dallas who probably is desperate for points and they’ve had a bad streak. So going into these games they’re looking at it as nothing to lose and put everything you have into it. We’re looking at it as they just came off a game — we need to push the tempo and hopefully get off to a quick start with a quick goal,” said Brown.
RSL, which used the time off to try and get healthy, knows what to expect from Dallas.
“We know what kind of style they usually play and how dangerous they can be so we did try to implement some things into training to prepare us for the match,” said RSL defender Chris Wingert.
RSL is also looking to keep its home-field winning mentality against a Western Conference opponent Saturday night.
“As always, when we’re at home, we need to make sure that we’re sharp, trying to pressure the opposing team in their end, keeping possession, and that helps us create chances. And when we can get off with a good start and on the right foot we tend to do well,” said Wingert.
With RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman away with the United States National Team, Saturday's match will look a little different than usual.
RSL has spent the past two weeks trying to get guys ready to help fill those missing shoes.
“The good thing with the break was that (younger players) were getting to train a little more with the guys in those spots to gain that confidence and getting the rest of the guys that are normally in comfortable with them in knowing their habits and just knowing each others characteristics on the field,” said Brown.
For his part, backup goalkeeper Kyle Reynish relishes the chance to get on the field.
“Anytime I get to contribute some minutes and help the team out I’m always excited, especially for a home game. I haven’t gotten too many of those so I’m definitely excited,” said Reynish.
Following the FC Dallas match, RSL will again take another MLS break for two weeks, but will see game action in the third round of the U.S. Open Lamar Hunt — beginning Tuesday as the club hosts the Minnesota Stars at Rio Tinto.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
