Nearly five weeks of preseason are in the books for Real Salt Lake which now looks ahead to a Wednesday afternoon bout against Western Conference rival FC Dallas in the Mobile Mini Sun Cup. The match can be seen live on the KSL TV app beginning at 12:00 p.m. noon MT. Fans unable to watch the match are encouraged to follow @RealSaltLake on Twitter for in-match updates.
Coming off of a convincing 4-1 victory over USL Championship Western Conference champion Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, RSL will be aiming to take its momentum into its first match against Major League Soccer opposition this preseason. In its match against Phoenix, RSL conceded a goal after just two minutes but stormed back with two first half strikes from Damir Kreilach before the halftime interval. In the second half, Brooks Lennon found himself on the scoresheet before Jefferson Savarino sealed the match at 4-1.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas – Wed., February 20, 2019
- Coverage Begins: 12:00 p.m. MT
- Local TV: N/A
- Digital Streaming: KSL TV App
- English Radio: N/A
- Spanish Radio: N/A
- Social Media:@RealSaltLake on Twitter
RSL now faces a familiar opponent in FC Dallas, a team in which the Utah club will see twice in the 2019 MLS regular season. The preseason match will be played at the neutral ground of Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, the site of the club’s final training camo of the 2019 preseason.
In 2018, RSL claimed a 1-1 draw in its season opener before a 4-2 victory at Rio Tinto Stadium in early-July.
“Against FC Dallas I think match-fitness is the biggest goal,” RSL defender Tony Beltran said. “Fitness is paramount at this stage of preseason and while we’ve been training this whole time, nothing can replicate what a match is like. The match against FC Dallas presents us with a great opportunity to do just that.”
Throughout the 2019 preseason, Head Coach Mike Petke has led his side in an effort to cement a certain culture within the team. In doing so, the team has secured two victories in three matches over opposition in the last five weeks. Having topped Iwaki FC while in Hawaii and Rising FC last Saturday, the sternest test yet for the club comes against Dallas on Saturday.
After its match against Dallas, RSL will face the Portland Timbers on Saturday in its final preseason tuneup before it commences its 15th season in Major League Soccer the following weekend. RSL opens the 2019 regular season on the road at the Houston Dynamo on March 2 beginning at 4:00 p.m. MT.
