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SANDY — Just two weeks ago, Atlanta United wrapped up the 2018 season with a 2-0 win over Portland in the MLS Cup final.
Now on to the next one.
Major League Soccer announced its opening week of the 2019 season Thursday, and Real Salt Lake will begin in a familiar place — on the road.
RSL will open its 15th MLS season in Houston, with a March 2 kickoff against the Dynamo. The Sandy-based club will host the Vancouver Whitecaps a week later, March 9 at 4 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Salt Lake is 5-1-8 all-time in home-opening matches dating back to its inaugural season in 2005 that was played at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The club is 4-1-5 in home openers since moving to Rio Tinto Stadium.
RSL was unbeaten in home openers before last year’s 5-1 loss to expansion side Los Angeles FC.
Further, the club is 6-1-3 against Vancouver since the 2011 expansion team joined the league.
Other notable opening games around MLS include expansion FC Cincinnati opening March 2 at Seattle Sounders, and the opening of Minnesota United’s Allianz Field against the New York Red Bulls on April 13.
Defending champs Atlanta will open March 3 against D.C. United, while newly re-signed designated player Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the LA Galaxy against Sporting Kansas City on the same day.
Young call-ups
New U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter announced his first January training camp Thursday via U.S. Soccer, and the 27-man roster includes a pair of RSL youngsters.
Homegrown defender Justen Glad and reigning MLS rookie of the year Corey Baird have been called into training camp, which begins Jan. 6 in Chula Vista, California, and features friendlies Jan. 28 against Panama and Feb. 2 against Costa Rica.
“Justen and Corey highlight a special group of young players on our roster,” RSL general manager Craig Waibel said in a statement. “This honor for them is a testament to the work they’ve done at Real Salt Lake since their days at the academy and reinforces our club vision.
“The opportunities are there for the entire group and this call-up could be a sign of things to come for them if they take advantage.”
