REAL SALT LAKE WELCOMES COLUMBUS CREW SC TO RIO TINTO STADIUM ON WEDNESDAY
RSL Hosts Pre-Independence Day Match on July 3 Against Columbus Crew SC; Postgame Fireworks to Follow the Match
SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, July 2, 2019) – Real Salt Lake is set to host a midweek clash on Wednesday, July 3 when it welcomes Columbus Crew SC to Rio Tinto Stadium at 8:00p MT. A postgame fireworks show will follow immediately after the final whistle of Wednesday’s match.
Tickets to Wednesday’s Independence Day match can be purchased by going to RSL.com or by calling 844.REAL.TIX.
RSL is coming off a 2-0 victory over Western Conference rival Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night, a match that saw first half strikes from FW Sam Johnson and a shutout performance from GK Nick Rimando help the club to the full three points. The win pushed RSL to 7-8-2 (23 points) at the halfway point of the 2019 MLS season.
RSL and Crew SC last met on June 30, 2018 at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio where the hosts claimed a narrow 2-1 victory after first half goals from Gyasi Zardes and Eduardo Sosa canceled out a second half strike from MF Albert Rusnák. Crew SC holds the all-time series lead over RSL since 2005, carrying a 12-5-4 record into Wednesday’s match.
Columbus travels to Utah on the back of a 2-0 home loss to Orlando City SC last Saturday as the team currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 5-11-2 record (17 points).
How to Follow Real Salt Lake vs. Columbus Crew SC – Wednesday, July 3, 2019
· Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT
· Local TV: KMYU w/ David James (play-by-play), Brian Dunseth (color) & Samantha Yarock (sideline)
· Digital Streaming: KSL TV app
· English Radio: ESPN700 with Bill Riley (play-by-play) & Jay Nolly (color)
· Spanish Radio: 107.1 FM
Game Notes for Wednesday’s RSL v CLB 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 Crew SC 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.
As RSL enters the halfway point of the 2019 season, Head Coach Mike Petke’s team has seen eight different players notch goals for the club. The team is led in scoring by Rusnák who has scored six goals on the year. Designated Player FW Sam Johnson sits second on the team with five goals scored in 14 matches played.
2018 RSL Golden Boot winner MF Damir Kreilach has remained a steady presence in the midfield for RSL in 2019, providing three goals and one assist in 14 starts this season. Playmaker MF Jefferson Savarino has three goals to his name, enough to earn a call-up to the Venezuelan Men’s National Team for the 2019 Copa America in Brazil.
On the backline, DF Nedum Onuoha has been a mainstay at centerback in his first full season with the club, starting and playing in 15 of the club’s 16 matches thus far. The former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers defender has seen been paired alongside Homegrown DFs Justen Glad and Erik Holt and DF Marcelo Silva 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 leads the defensive group in matches played in 2019 having featured in all 16 matches.
In goal, legendary GK Nick Rimando has featured in 12 matches in 2019, earning two shutouts. Prior to the commencement of the season, Rimando announced that 2019 – his 20th season in MLS would be his last and was recently selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber for the 2019 MLS All-Star game in Orlando, Florida on July 31. GK Andrew Putna has also seen action in goal this season, starting four of RSL’s 16 matches while earning one shutout on the year in RSL’s dominant 3-0 victory over 2019 expansion side FC Cincinnati on April 19.
