SANDY, Utah – (Friday, September 18, 2020) – Real Salt Lake returns to the field for the first time in a week when it welcomes Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, September 19. Kickoff in Sandy is set for 7:30 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live locally on KMYU, the KSL TV app and ESPN700 radio.
For a full list of safety protocols put in place for the match at Rio Tinto Stadium to keep players, staff, fans and media safe, click here.
RSL returns to the pitch after suffering its worst home loss in club history at the hands of Colorado last Saturday, falling 5-0. The defeat marked the first home loss of the 2020 season for RSL.
Saturday will be the 23rd all-time meeting between RSL and the Whitecaps with the all-time series knotted at 9-9-4 going to each side since the Canadian side entered the league in 2011.
In the last meeting between the sides, RSL saw a 1-0 victory on Decision Day in 2019 behind a first half goal from Damir Kreilach. The win solidified third place in the Western Conference and its first win in Vancouver. Whitecaps FC is coming off the back of a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday in Vancouver to end the Canadian phase of Major League Soccer’s continuation of play.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Saturday, September 19, 2020
·Coverage Begins: 7:00 p.m. MT
·Local TV: KMYU w/ David James (play-by-play) & Brian Dunseth (color) with Samantha Yarock (sideline)
·Digital Streaming: KSL TV app
·English Radio: ESPN700
·Spanish TV: N/A
Game Notes for Saturday’s RSL vs. Vancouver game Available Online
Those seeking the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Whitecaps 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 the RSL Communications Department via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.
RSL finished the 2019 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 added an additional five assists. 2018 RSL Golden Boot winner MF Damir Kreilach remained a steady presence in multiple roles for RSL in 2019, providing six goals and five assists in 32 starts this season.
On the backline, defender Nedum Onuoha returns in 2020 after becoming 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 was been paired alongside fellow returners Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva and Erik Holt and Nick Besler. On both sides of the backline, Homegrown defenders Aaron Herrera and Donny Toia return as the club welcomes MLS veteran Ashtone Morgan and MLS debutant Alvin Jones. 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, David Ochoa and Andrew Putna return to the goalkeeping core and welcome veteran Zac MacMath to the team for the 2020 season. Putna saw action in goal for RSL and Real Monarchs last 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
