Match Preview: LAFC vs. FC Real Salt Lake

The last seven days of Real Salt Lake have been filled with discussions, jokes and highlights on Wayne Rooney's hat trick, as well as DC United's 5-0 win at Audi Field last week. . It's now time for RSL to pull itself together, go to Los Angeles and try to get a result against a very good LAFC team at the Banc of California Stadium.

It will not be easy. Not even close. RSL will not have a host of important players because of red cards, injuries and international homework during the MLS round-up this week due to the FIFA break.

The last time RSL met LAFC on the road, they managed to win 3-2 in the playoffs of 2018, before moving on to the semifinals of the Western Conference. against Sporting Kansas City. This last trip has also earned us this legendary beauty of Damir "Karate Kid" Kreilach:

He never gets old, does he?

This game was a storybook, because everyone in the country thought that LAFC would win the victory and get to its very first appearance in the playoffs. RSL understood the situation thanks to Kreilach's two goals, which shattered the dreams of LAFC's players and supporters.

True salt lake

Record: 1-1-1 (4 points)
Table: 8th place (west)
Points per game: 1.33
More goals: Albert Rusnak (2)
Most badists: Corey Baird (1)
Clean sheets: 1
Shape: DWL

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY HUI Sports

Woes of the exhausted team

I'm not going to laugh, RSL is pretty bad this week. A group of players are missing on this road trip in Los Angeles and have just suffered a 5-0 loss a week ago on the road in Washington. In addition, LAFC has not been so tough with international orders, as star striker Carlos Vela has been forgotten by Mexican head coach Tata Martino for this week's friendly matches.

The list of players returning to RSL will be in vain: Corey Baird, Sam Johnson, Julian Vasquez and Albert Rusnak will all be absent with their respective national teams this weekend, while Jefferson Savarino and Marcelo Silva will both be absent from the match. suspended after receiving red cards in Washington last week. In terms of injuries, Joao Plata is still injured his ankle while Justen Glad is still injured at the toe, but he was seen on the pitch earlier this week watching his teammates train .

These are seven potential starters who will not see the pitch this weekend and leave Petke in trouble. With Rusnak absent, we will probably see Kreilach intervene to fill his position, which leaves the center's attacker vacant. The other two players who normally return – Baird and Johnson – are both absent. Who do we see playing at the top? Will Petke even decide to play with a central striker this week? Also, with Glad and Silva, that means we'll probably see Nick Besler start in the center, next to Nedum Onuoha.

They can still get there

The lack of regular starters this week does not mean they have to participate. can not get a result. It's still possible and more crazy things have happened. Kyle Beckerman and Everton Luiz will still be able to play as defensive midfielders and, hopefully, help strengthen the defensive weaknesses of the bottom line. On top of that, Donny Toia is ready to leave if Petke believes the outside records should be confused, while Tony Beltran still has doubts about his confidence this week after being injured in the knee.

As RSL misses the most attack, I would not be surprised to see Lennon move to the right while Toia or Beltran (if he is in good health) defends the back. So many decisions and options, we can only speculate at this point.

Absences

OUTSIDE: Albert Rusnak (International Law), Sam Johnson (International Law), Corey Baird (International Law), Julian Vazquez (International Law), Jefferson Savarino (Red Card Suspension), Marcelo Silva (Red Card Suspension), Justen Glad (Toe) ), Joao Plata (ankle), Jordan Allen (knee, out of season)
DOUBTFUL: Tony Beltran (knee)

Projected range

Rimando; Herrera, Onuoha, Besler, Toia; Beckerman, Luiz; Lennon, Kreilach, Saucedo; Schmitt

Los Angeles FC

Record: 2-0-1 (6 points)
Table: 2nd place (west)
Points per game: 2.33
More goals: Carlos Vela (2)
Most badists: Carlos Vela (2), Latif Blessing (2)
Clean sheets: 0
Form: WWD

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY HUI Sports

Good start

LAFC, who drew 2-2 on the road against NYCFC, sits at the top of the Western conference field thanks to Carlos Vela, his three goals and two badists. They have plenty of punching power between Vela, Diego Rossi and Adama Diomande, who have two goals and one pbad in 103 minutes this season. The three players will be available this weekend, badisted by young Latif Blessing midfielder who has already scored two badists.

RSL's defense is going to be severely tested against this LAFC team, which will be looking for revenge for the home defeat in last year's round of 16 playoffs.

There are some missing

Even if they are not as hard hit by international calls as RSL, they will always miss an important piece of striker Christian Ramirez, who scored a goal this season. He will probably be replaced by Diomande, who could be even better. Defender Mark Anthony-Kaye will also be on international duty, while back Steven Beitashour is still questionable after missing last week's match due to a concussion.

Absences

OUTSIDE: Mark Anthony-Kaye (International Law), Christian Ramirez (International Law), Josh Perez (International Law), Mohamed El-Munir (International Law), Peter-Lee Vbadell (International Law) Rodolfo Zelaya (Solo Injury) Alejandro Guido ( quad strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Steven Beitashour (concussion)

Projected range

Miller; Silva, Zimmerman, Segura, Harvey; Horta, Atuesta, blessing; Vela, Diomande, Rossi

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Match information

When: Saturday, March 23, 2019, at 8:30 pm, time of the day before

Or: California Stadium Bench – Los Angeles, CA

weather: 63 degrees, partly cloudy

spread: KMYU, KSL TV application (streaming), ESPN + (streaming), ESPN700 (radio)

Arbitrator: Ismail Elfath