SANDY, Utah (Saturday, March 5, 2016) – Real Salt Lake kicks off its 12th MLS season tomorrow with its first-ever official game in Florida, squaring off against second-year club Orlando City SC before 63,000+ at the Citrus Bowl. Sunday’s contest kicks off at 12 noon MT, as Head Coach Jeff Cassar’s club seeks to capitalize on the momentum created with quality performances against Mexican power Tigres in the recent CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal series.
Sunday’s contest can be viewed in Utah via KMYU (English, David James & Brian Dunseth) or heard via RSL flagships ESPN700 AM (English, Bill Riley & Brian Kamler) & 102.3 FM / 1600 AM (Spanish, Fernando Hortal & Nelson Moran). Pre-game coverage airs live locally on ESPN700 AM at 11:00 a.m. MT with hosts Jeremy Horton & Spencer Warne, while KMYU’s three-hour window kicks off at 11:30 a.m. MT live from the Citrus Bowl.
RSL now kicks off the 2016 MLS campaign with a trip to Florida, the club’s first since a 2007 preseason match at University of Tampa against the Knights at Tom Fitzgerald Field. RSL and OCSC have squared off just once before, drawing 1-1 last July 4 in Utah.
In that meeting, Brazilian legend Kaka scored just 5 minutes in for OCSC, then saw RSL pull level in the 28th minute through former Argentine striker Sebastian Jaime. Kaka then provided early Independence Day Fireworks, receiving his first career straight red just before halftime after mixing it up with RSL maestro Javier Morales. Before a then-record crowd of 20,956, RSL was unable to take advantage of OCSC boss Adrian Heath’s 10-man squad, despite a 23-9 advantage in shots (7-4 on goal) and possession (60/40).
How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ Orlando City SC – 2016 MLS Opener
- Coverage Begins: 11:30 a.m. MT
- TV: KMYU (2.2 air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD) – David James & Brian Dunseth
- English Radio: ESPN 700 AM (11:00 a.m. MT) – Bill Riley, Brian Kamler, Jeremy Horton, Spencer Warne
- Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM / 1600 AM – Nelson Moran & Fernando Hortal
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter feed provides updates
Game Guide for Sunday’s RSL @ Orlando City Matchup Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the MLS Game Guide in advance of Wednesday night’s contest between Real Salt Lake and OCSC is available by clicking HERE.
2016 REAL SALT LAKE NOTES –
RSL @ ORLANDO CITY SC – Sun., March 6, 2016 – 11:30 a.m. MT
EARLY-SEASON ROAD WARRIORS: Following RSL’s SCCL QF series, Head Coach Jeff Cassar’s club kicks off the MLS season with three of its first four, and nine of first 13, away from home for the deepest glut of road games in RSL’s 12 seasons … The club’s run of five straight away games from May 7 to June 2 is the longest in RSL history …
OPENING DAY HISTORY FORTUITOUS FOR RSL: In League play, 2016 marks the 10th time in 12 years that RSL opens the year on the road, the Claret-and-Cobalt amassing a 5-2-2 mark on the road … RSL last lost a season opener in 2009 in Seattle, and has posted a 0-1-2 away mark on the first day of the season on artificial surfaces (draws in 2005 at Giants Stadium at MetroStars and in 2015 at Portland’s Providence Park) …
TURF MONSTER STRUGGLE IS REAL: All-time, RSL owns a woeful record on turf, as the team is now 8-23-16 in all competitions on fake grass, being outscored 38-81 … RSL is 0-8-2 in its last 10 games across all competitions on the fake stuff, posted an 0-4-1 mark in each of the last two seasons … RSL’s greatest glory has come on an artificial surface, winning MLS Cup 2009 in a shootout against LA at what was then known as Qwest Field in Seattle ... In 2011, RSL emerged from two home-and-home knockout series with turf results in the second leg: the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal series with a 1:2 road loss at Saprissa, courtesy of the valued Jamison Olave road goal; and the MLS Cup Playoffs West Semifinal against Seattle with an 0:2 loss ...
RIO TINTO STADIUM FIELD RENOVATION IN MAY: The main impetus on RSL’s early-season / road-heavy slate is due to a May 1 – June 15 field replacement at the world-class Sandy venue … An exact replication of the base and field surface is planned, as RSL has played 159 games at home since the Oct. 9, 2008 opener …
RIOT AT THE RIOT IN BACK HALF OF SEASON: However, following the field renovation and the league-wide Copa America break in early June, RSL will play four of its next five and six of its next eight at home, leading into the annual MLS All-Star Break in late July … RSL also sees another late-season stretch of six out of eight at home from late August to late October, prior to the season finale at Seattle on Oct. 23 …
