SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has announced that it will host Mexican side Club Tijuana, commonly known as “Xolos,” in an international friendly to be played on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. MT.
The Claret-and-Cobalt’s international friendly is already included in the RSL season ticket package and parking pass booklet as “BONUS GAME A.” Tickets to the RSL-Tijuana contest will go on sale to the general public next Wednesday, July 9. Prior to public sale, current RSL season ticket holders are able to secure extra seats to the Xolos match. Tickets to the international showcase are available at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
The August 12 matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Club Tijuana and Real Salt Lake. Club Tijuana qualified for the 2014 Liga MX postseason, the Clausura Liguilla, but fell 3-1 to Toluca in the quarterfinals. The Northern Mexican side also made it to the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals – after knocking out elite MLS representative Los Angeles Galaxy – but fell 2-1 on aggregate to Mexico City side Cruz Azul.
RSL is 3-4-2 all-time against Mexican teams, including a 3-3-1 mark at home against Monterrey (2011 CCL Final), Cruz Azul (2010 CCL group stage), along with friendlies against Morelia (2005), Santos Laguna and Tigres (2008), as well as Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America (2009).
The last time Real Salt Lake hosted an international side at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Claret-and-Cobalt were eliminated from the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League with a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica’s CS Herediano on Oct. 23, 2012. RSL also met a similar fate in the second leg of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League Final, also held at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 27, 2011. The home side fell 1-0 to Mexican side C.F. Monterrey, ultimately losing the Championship 3-2 on aggregate. The 2010-11 CCL Final is the farthest an MLS team has gone in the revered tournament.
Real Salt Lake has been successful against international teams, posting a 14-8-7 all-time record in international contests. The Claret-and-Cobalt has done fairly well at home against global competition (not including Canadian teams), going 10-6-4 in the Beehive State.
Real Salt Lake kicks off a busy July tomorrow against the New England Revolution, with the 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff at Rio Tinto Stadium followed by an Independence Day fireworks show. Friday’s contest – the first of four home games in the month of July – is completely sold out, but will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
