SANDY, Utah (Friday, March 4, 2022) – Real Salt Lake (0-0-1, 1 point, 8th in West) will host Seattle Sounders FC (0-1-0, 0 points, 10th in West) at Rio Tinto Stadium for its 2022 Home Opener this Saturday, March 5 with kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. MT. RSL boasts an all-time 10-1-3 regular-season home mark against Seattle at Rio Tinto Stadium, unbeaten in the last 11 matches against the visiting “Rave Green,” dating back to May 28, 2011.
Saturday’s match will be locally broadcast on KMYU (2.2 over-the-air, 643/22 Comcast, 12 Satellite) and available to stream via the KSL TV & KSL Sports apps, as well as via KSLSports.com. Fans can also follow via ESPN700 AM radio. Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3 FM, La Gran D 102.3 FM and KTUB 1600 AM for the local radio broadcast.
Parking Lots and Media Gate will open two hours prior to kickoff, with general gates opening 90 minutes prior to kick for fans, which are invited to come early and get a look at all the new and exciting updates to Rio Tinto Stadium. Additionally, fans are invited to join a new pregame tradition, “March to the Match” at 3:15 p.m., starting under the Stadium’s East Side gates (near State Street). Also, when the game clock shows “8:01” the entire bowl is invited to raise “Scarves Up” over their heads for one minute to express their pride in everything Claret-and-Cobalt.
Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders FC
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Saturday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Sunday’s RSL vs SEA game Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2022 MLS Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Taran Meyer in RSL Communications via email at tmeyer@rsl.com
2022 Records: Real Salt Lake (0-0-1, 1 point, 8th in West); Seattle Sounders FC (0-1-0, 0 points, 10th in West
Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a record of 13-12-5 against Seattle Sounders FC. Most recently, RSL defeated them in the opening round of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at Lumen Field on November 23, 2021 advancing by penalty kicks (6-5) to the Western Conference Semifinals. RSL has not lost to the Sounders in Sandy since 2011, posting a 9-0-2 regular-season record within that time.
STORYLINES TO WATCH:
RIOT Defenders
RSL returns home Saturday unbeaten in its last 11 home matches against Seattle Sounders FC, posting a 9-0-2 (Win-Loss-Draw) record since May 2011, including a 1-0 victory last September courtesy a game-winner from Damir Kreilach, assisted by Aaron Herrera. The Claret and Cobalt have not lost a home-opener since 2018 either, posting a 2-0-1 record with a goal differential of three within that time, overall the Club has a 7-1-9 record in all-time Home Opener matches, only losing in the 2018 game against LAFC. Currently, RSL holds the league-best regular season home record of 123-35-55, 424 points since 2009. Buoyed by a passionate base boasting several thousand season ticket holders, RSL has enjoyed a prominent home-field advantage – posting a dominant 145-43-46 (Win-Loss-Draw) record across all competitions at home (2.06 points per game for a 0.771 win pct.) – since building its permanent Rio Tinto Stadium home in Sandy 13 years ago.
Captain Kreilach
With the departure of former captain and midfielder Albert Rusnák in offseason free agency, it is now 2021 MLS All-Star, RSL MVP and Golden Boot winner Damir Kreilach as Captain of Real Salt Lake. Kreilach is the Club’s fifth captain, joining former FW/head coach Jason Kreis, MF Carey Talley, Club legend Kyle Beckerman and Rusnák. In four-plus seasons with RSL, Kreilach has scored 42 goals (fourth-most all-time) and recorded 23 assists in 119 appearances.
Albert Rusnák Returns
Former RSL captain Albert Rusnák returns to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time since joining Seattle Sounders FC as a free agent in the offseason. Rusnak signed with the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2017 as a Designated Player and was the focal point of the attack for much of his career in Utah. Rusnák posted a total of 140 appearances (135 starts), 41 goals (fifth-most all-time), and 39 assists (fourth-most all-time) during his tenure in Salt Lake.
Seattle Roster Changes
Last season, Real Salt Lake posted a 1-1-0 record against Seattle Sounders FC, with Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach scoring two goals across the two games. For 2022, Seattle has made several roster changes, including the addition of former RSL captain Albert Rusnák. Colombian forward Fredy Montero signed with Seattle after his most recent stint with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and two homegrown players including 16-year-old midfielder Obed Vargas. Additionally, U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jordan Morris is back at full strength after missing most of the 2021 season due to injury.
Connections: Seattle Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez served as head coach for Real Salt Lake from 2019-2021 season before departing midseason to join the Sounders. Former RSL captain Albert Rusnák returns for the first time since joining Seattle in the offseason. Additionally, former RSL general managers Craig Waibel and Garth Lagerwey both hold executive positions with Seattle.
