Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 7
Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy
August 26 – 9:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: YouTube TV [LA region only], KMYU

Two teams coming off vastly different rivalry results on the weekend meet up at Rio Tinto Stadium when Real Salt Lake host LAFC Wednesday night.

RSL maintained their Rocky Mountain Cup dominance with a 4-1 win over the host Colorado Rapids, while LAFC were listless in a stunning 2-0 El Trafico defeat to the LA Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium.

Although its a small sample size, LAFC have yet to lose in Sandy, following up a shocking 5-1 victory in their second-ever MLS match with a 2-0 win last August.

Real Salt Lake

RSL made it five consecutive Rocky Mountain Cup victories with an emphatic 4-1 win over the Rapids Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Claret-and-Cobalt actually trailed at halftime, but a thunderous strike by Damir Kreilach provided the spark for four unanswered second-half goals.  

“It was so important because every game right now is a six-point game," Kreilach said. "To take three points against Colorado is a big win.  At the end of the day, we have a hard schedule in these next five games, so to take three points today is a big thing.  We have to think positive and be ready for what we can expect these next couple of weeks.  Our goal every game is to get three points and it won’t be easy, but we will give everything to get it.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Douglas Martinez (F)- concussion
  • QUESTIONABLE: Christopher Garcia (M)- undisclosed injury
• Suspended: Kyle Beckerman (M)
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

LAFC

The latest chapter of El Trafico delivered a "terrible" performance by host LAFC, which again conceded on a corner kick as bitter rival LA Galaxy avenged an MLS is Back shellacking to win at the Banc for the first time. Adding literal injury to the insult, star Carlos Vela went out with what LAFC coach Bob Bradley said is likely an MCL injury early in the second half. 

“We’re going to find a way to push ourselves out of it,” Bradley promised. “We’ve been a good team, a team that has played at a high level and a day like today is not acceptable for any of us.”

On Tuesday, Bradley revealed Vela suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is listed "week-to-week."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Carlos Vela (F) - Grade 2 MCL sprain
  • OUT: Eduard Atuesta (M) - right foot injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Real Salt Lake

• Real Salt Lake: 0 wins, 1 goal
• LAFC: 2 wins, 7 goals
• 0 draws

Officials

• Referee: Victor Rivas
• Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Brian Poeschel
• 4th Official: Allen Chapman
• VAR: Edvin Jurisevic