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SANDY — Real Salt Lake jetted off to the Empire State Thursday in preparation to face Major League Soccer Eastern Conference opponent the New York Red Bulls Saturday along with three former players who were a part of the Salt Lake club just last year.
The Red Bulls acquired forward Fabian Espindola and defender Jamison Olave during the offseason on Dec. 3 in exchange for allocation money after both began their MLS careers with the Salt Lake club. Espindola played six seasons for the Claret and Cobalt while Olave played five.
The Red Bulls also acquired midfielder Jonny Steele, who joined RSL in 2012. Steele was acquired by New York on Feb. 20 when it picked up his MLS first right of refusal from the Salt Lake club in exchange for a conditional supplemental draft pick.
All three players have seen success with the New York club this season and are putting goals in the back of the net. In 19 appearances so far this season, Espindola has tallied four goals and two assists for the Red Bulls while Olave has put four goals in the net in 18 appearances. Steele has contributed two goals and three assists in 20 appearances so far.
The Salt Lake side enters the match off a controversial 2-1 loss at home last weekend to Sporting Kansas City following an 11-game unbeaten run prior to the loss. Despite the loss, the Claret and Cobalt still sit atop the MLS Western Conference table with 37 points and 11-6-4 on the season.
New York enters Saturday’s match off a 0-0 draw in Canada against Toronto FC. The Red Bulls currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points and 9-7-5 on the season.
RSL will be without four regular players due to international duty and suspension. Midfielder Kyle Beckerman, defender Tony Beltran and goalkeeper Nick Rimando all remain with the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team for CONCACAF Gold Cup play and will be available for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann Sunday for the Gold Cup final against Panama before returning to the Salt Lake club.
The Claret and Cobalt will also be without defender Chris Wingert as he will serve the first of a two-game suspension he was handed for a red card in last Saturday’s match against Sporting KC and an additional one-game suspension from the MLS Disciplinary Committee earlier this week for violent contact in the match.
Saturday’s match may be the first time fans see newly acquired defender Brandon McDonald in the Claret and Cobalt uniform. McDonald has been with the Salt Lake club for just over a week and will be available for Saturday in New York.
Following Saturday’s matchup with the Red Bulls, the Salt Lake club will remain on the road to face Western Conference rival the Colorado Rapids Aug. 3 before returning to its Rio Tinto Stadium fortress to host the Portland Timbers in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match on Aug. 7. RSL will then return to MLS play three days later as it hosts the Houston Dynamo Aug. 10. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
