Real Salt Lake kicks off against Sporting Kansas City at 6:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, but the Claret-and-Cobalt will take the field without two stalwarts, as Nick Rimando (hamstring) and Kyle Beckerman (calf) are both unavailable due to injury.
“Before the sun can come out it has to pour. And it’s been pouring in certain aspects for this team for a while now,” RSL Head Coach Mike Petke said in his pregame radio interview. “It’s just move them out and move somebody in who’s ready for a challenge.”
Rimando suffered his injury during RSL’s 3-1 defeat last week against Atlanta United while Beckerman was hampered during the week. The longtime captain even made the trip to Kansas City, but was a late scratch at Petke’s behest after going through fitness testing on Friday at training.
“I had to make the call because Kyle wouldn’t have,” Petke said. “Kyle wants to play all the time, he wants to battle. Especially in a game like this. He’s a warrior and he’s so important for this team, but it just doesn’t make sense.”
The duo joins a growing list that includes Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund and Jordan Allen, among others. However, Sunny returns to the lineup on Saturday and will start in the midfield alongside Luke Mulholland in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
In goal, Matt VanOekel will make his second MLS start after earning a shutout against the New York Red Bulls in his debut.
“That’s somebody else’s opportunity,” Petke said. “They know what’s at stake and they know how big it is and it’s up to them to step up.”
RSL’s starting XI is: Matt VanOekel; Danny Acosta, Chris Wingert, Chris Schuler, Demar Phillips; Luke Mulholland, Sunny; Brooks Lennon, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Yura Movsisyan.
On the bench will be: Lalo Fernandez, Reagan Dunk, Justin Schmidt, Omar Holness, Jose Hernandez, Sebastian Saucedo and Luis Silva.
