SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake will continue its road schedule this Saturday, taking on Chicago Fire at 6:30 p.m. MT at Toyota Park. Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
Real Salt Lake will look to continue its undefeated start to the 2014 season this weekend. RSL drew its last match, moving to 3-0-5 on the season after drawing Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium last Saturday. Last weekend’s match saw RSL score two early goals from FW’s Joao Plata and Alvaro Saborio, before allowing two late goals to earn the draw. RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar now claims the longest unbeaten run to start a managerial career in MLS’s post-shootout era. RSL currently sits third in the Western Conference with a total of 14 points.
RSL has been successful on the road this season, earning a total of six points and posting a 1-0-3 record in four games away from home. The Claret-and-Cobalt won 1-0 at LA Galaxy in its season opener on March 8, drew 3-3 at San Jose Earthquakes on March 15, tied 0-0 at Sporting Kansas City on April 5 and drew 2-2 at Philadelphia Union on April 12.
Saturday’s match in the Windy City will be Real Salt Lake’s only meeting with Chicago Fire in the 2014 regular season. Real Salt Lake has struggled historically against the Fire, posting a 3-6-7 all-time regular season record against the Eastern Conference side. In a total of eight regular season matchups in Chicago, the Claret-and-Cobalt has only recorded one win – a 1-0 victory on July 8, 2010. RSL has a 1-4-3 all-time regular season record in the Windy City.
The two sides last met on May 25, 2013 in a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium. Saborio scored RSL’s lone goal, giving the home side the lead in the 78th minute. But the Claret-and-Cobalt were unable to hold on to the lead, allowing Chicago Fire FW Quincy Amarikwa to equalize six minutes later. Amarikwa leads the Fire with four goals in 2014, but will miss Saturday’s match due to a one-game suspension picked up after he was ejected in the Fire’s last match on April 19.
Real Salt Lake will hope to have one of its healthiest rosters available for selection before it heads to Chicago. Last Saturday’s match against Vancouver saw the return of Plata to the starting lineup. The speedy Ecuadorian now has three goals and two assists in four appearances for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2014. RSL will look to have MF Luis Gil available for selection this weekend after the young U.S. international suffered a hamstring injury which saw him miss two of RSL’s last three matches.
Chicago Fire enters Saturday’s match looking for its first win of the 2014 season. The Fire currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with a 0-1-6 record for a total of six points. Chicago has a number of RSL connections on its roster and coaching staff, with ex-RSL DF Lovel Palmer and GK Kyle Reynish currently on the Fire roster, ex-RSL MF Clint Mathis on the coaching staff and former RSL Assistant Coach C.J. Brown occupying the same role at Toyota Park.
Real Salt Lake will not return home until May 17 when it will take on Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets to the RSL-COL contest can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake at Chicago Fire
- Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. MT at Chicago Fire
- TV: CW30
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 5:30 p.m. MT)
- Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide match updates
Game Guide for Saturday’s RSL-CHI Match Now Available Online
Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Game Guide for Saturday’s RSL-CHI matchup
RSL History v. Chicago Fire
Real Salt Lake has struggled historically against the Fire, posting a 3-6-7 all-time regular season record against the Eastern Conference side. In a total of eight regular season matchups in Chicago, the Claret-and-Cobalt has only recorded one win – a 1-0 victory on July 8, 2010. RSL registers a 1-4-3 all-time regular season record in the Windy City.
The two sides last met on May 25, 2013 in a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium. Saborio scored RSL’s lone goal, giving the home side the lead in the 78th minute. But the Claret-and-Cobalt were unable to hold on to the lead, allowing Chicago Fire FW Quincy Amarikwa to equalize six minutes later.
