Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Football Club | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 15
Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy
October 4 – 9:30 PM ET

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

LOCAL TV: YouTube TV [LA region only], EstrellaTV 62, KMYU

Real Salt Lake are hoping to stretch an unbeaten and shutout streak to three games when they host an LAFC team still seeking a string of consistent results when the Western Conference foes square off at Rio Tinto Stadium Sunday night. 

Real Salt Lake (4W-4L-6D) are coming off a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United and sit just above the playoff line in the Western Conference, while LAFC (5W-6L-3D) are level on points with RSL following a 2-1 home loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. 

RSL picked up their first-ever win over LAFC at RioT on Sept. 9, a decisive 3-0 victory fueled by Damir "Karate Kid" Kreilach, who struck again against Bob Bradley's side.

Real Salt Lake

Andrew Putna made seven saves to help Real Salt Lake secure a road point from a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United at Allianz Field. Coupled with a 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy, RSL have not conceded in their last two games after leaking seven goals in consecutive defeats to the rival Rapids and Vancouver Whitecaps. 

"You need those type of games,'" Freddy Juarez said after the match. "They build unity, they build character and they help you become a believer. When you're on the road and you're not scoring goals, you've got to keep the opponent off the scoreboard. Great result overall, everyone did a good job to preserve that draw. Some big saves from Putna that kept us in that match and that's what is needed."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Everton Luiz (M) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Giuseppe Rossi (F) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: Justen Glad (D)
• Suspended after next caution: Kyle Beckerman (M), Corey Baird (F)
• International duty: None

LAFC

Mark-Anthony Kaye scored just before halftime to give LAFC a lead, but they paid for their inability to tack on a second goal as they conceded twice late in a shock 2-1 loss to the Earthquakes. 

"We give San Jose credit," Bradley said after the game. "They've gone through a tough stretch, and today, at the end, they fought hard. But we still look only at ourselves for our inability to close the game out, or to deal with some moments late that caused us to give up two goals." 

"We had chances to get the second goal. When we don't finish them off, it still means that they know they're fighting for a chance, first to equalize, and when they got the equalizer, then they had a little bit of momentum and made one more play at the end." 

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Carlos Vela (F) - Grade 2 MLS sprain
  • OUT: Mohamed Traore (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Tristan Blackmon (D) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Real Salt Lake

• Real Salt Lake: 1 win, 4 goals
• LAFC: 2 wins, 7 goals
• 0 draws

Officials

• Referee: Nima Saghafi
• Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Art Arustamyan
• 4th Official: Elijio Arreguin
• VAR: Allen Chapman