SANDY, Utah – (Tuesday, October 22, 2019) – Real Salt Lake is set to face Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, October 23 at 8:00p MT at CenturyLink Field in the Western Conference Semifinal in the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Wednesday’s match can be seen live nationally on FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN and TVA Sports, with local radio coverage on ESPN 700.
RSL faces the Sounders after topping the Portland Timbers 2-1 on Saturday night behind goals from FWs Damir Kreilach and Jefferson Savarino. The win booked RSL’s place in the Western Conference Semifinal for the second time is as many seasons. The last time RSL and Seattle faced one another was on August 14 in Sandy as RSL claimed an emphatic 3-0 victory over the visitors. The two sides previously met in the postseason last in 2012, with Seattle advancing 1-0 on aggregate after a tightly contested West Semifinal series.
RSL entered the postseason for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons after finishing the 2019 regular season third place in the competitive Western Conference, amassing a 16-13-5 record (53 points) over 34 matches. The Utah club also earned the second-best home record in Major League Soccer in 2019, posting a 12-4-1 mark in Sandy. The club has now won 9 of its 16 all-time series in the postseason, earning an 9-8-8 all-time postseason record.
Wednesday’s winner will face the winner of No. 1 LAFC and No. 5 LA Galaxy next week, with the higher seed among the four teams hosting the Western Conference Semifinal.
Seattle entered the postseason after finishing in second place in the West after earning a 16-10-8 (56 points) record. Seattle toppled FC Dallas in a 4-3 thriller at CenturyLink Field last Saturday for the right to host RSL in the semifinal round.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ Seattle Sounders FC – Wednesday, October 23, 2019
· Coverage Begins: 8:00 p.m. MT
· National TV: FS1 w/ John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (color) & Katie Witham (sideline)
· Digital Streaming: N/A
· English Radio: ESPN700 w/ Bill Riley (play-by-play) & Jay Nolly (color)
· Spanish TV: FOX Deportes
Game Notes for Wednesday’s RSL @ SEA game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Wednesday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Sounders FC is available HERE. If you have any problems obtaining the document, would prefer to receive it as an attachment, or are seeking more information on the match, please contact Taran Meyer in the RSL Communications Department via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.
RSL finished the regular season seeing 12 different players notch goals for the club. The team was led in scoring by MF Albert Rusnák with 10 goals, followed closely by FW Sam Johnson with nine goals while Rusnák has added an additional five assists.
2018 RSL Golden Boot winner MF Damir Kreilach has remained a steady presence in multiple roles for RSL in 2019, providing six goals and five assists in 32 starts this season. FW Jefferson Savarino has eight goals and five assists, enough to earn a call-up to the Venezuelan Men’s National Team for the 2019 Copa America in Brazil this summer.
On the backline, DF Nedum Onuoha was a mainstay at centerback in his first full season with the club, featuring in 27 of the club’s 34 matches. The former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers defender has been paired alongside DFs Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva and Erik Holt and on occasion, MF Nick Besler. On both sides of the backline, Homegrown DFs Aaron Herrera, Brooks Lennon and Donny Toia have battled for starting positions at right and left back. Herrera led the team in matches played and minutes in 2019 having featured in 32 of RSL’s 34 matches for 2,768 minutes played.
In goal, legendary GK Nick Rimando has featured in 29 matches in 2019, earning ten shutouts. Prior to the start of the season, Rimando announced that 2019 – his 20th season in MLS and 13th with Real Salt Lake would be his last. On July 6, Rimando became the first player in MLS to start and play in 500 regular season matches as he continues to set the benchmark for players across the league. GK Andrew Putna also saw action in goal this season, starting five of RSL’s 34 matches while earning two shutouts on the year in RSL’s dominant 3-0 victory over 2019 expansion side FC Cincinnati on April 19 and a scoreless draw against New England on September 21.
