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SANDY — The news out of Real Salt Lake wasn’t good Tuesday as defender Chris Wingert received an extra one-game suspension and goalkeeper Josh Saunders is expected to miss six months following surgery to his left ACL Tuesday, which puts him out for the remainder of the season.
Wingert initially received a one-game suspension for his red card in last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City, but the additional game suspension came after the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee determined Wingert’s actions in the first minute of play Saturday, which earned him a first yellow in the match, were violent and endangered Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara.
With the additional one-game suspension, Wingert will now miss the Salt Lake club’s next two Major League Soccer matches on the road against the New York Red Bulls on July 27 and the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 3. The veteran RSL defender will be eligible for the Salt Lake club’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal match on Aug. 7 against the Portland Timbers.
The other set of bad news Tuesday for the club was that goalkeeper Josh Saunders is expected to miss six months after he underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his torn left ACL, an injury he suffered July 13 at FC Dallas.
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RSL third string keeper thrown into the fire
Jeff Attinella didn't expect to play a key role in Real Salt Lake's 3-0 win over FC Dallas, but when called upon, he was ready.Saunders has served as backup to RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando this season, being utilized while Rimando has been away on international duty and manning the net for the Claret and Cobalt in U.S. Open Cup play. Saunders finished the season with three MLS appearances and three starts in Open Cup play.
With Saunders out and Rimando currently with the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team for CONCACAF Gold Cup action, goalkeepers Jeff Attinella and Lalo Fernandez will man the net for the Salt Lake club.
Attinella received his first minutes of the season following Saunders’ injury in Dallas, playing the majority of the second half and tallying a handful of heroic saves to secure the club’s shutout 3-0 win over FC Dallas.
RSL returns to MLS action this weekend as it travels to the Empire State to take on the New York Red Bulls Saturday. The Salt Lake club will remain on the road the following week as it faces the Colorado Rapids.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
