MATCH 11: REAL SALT LAKE at PHILADELPHIA UNION (MAY 19, 2018)
Starting XI: Nick Rimando; Adam Henley, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Pablo Ruiz; Kyle Beckerman ©, Damir Kreilach; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Brooks Lennon; Corey Baird.
Bench: Connor Sparrow, Danilo Acosta, Aaron Herrera, Nick Besler, Sunny, Sebastian Saucedo, Luis Silva.
Lineup notes:
- Two new additions and three changes to the lineup as Marcelo Silva returns from injury and Joao Plata remains out with a quad contusion. Silva replaces Nick Besler, who started the last four matches, while Adam Henley moves into right back while Brooks Lennon shifts from that position to the left wing.
- Injury list: Jordan Allen (knee), Shawn Barry (knee), Tony Beltran (knee), Alex Horwath (Achilles), Luke Mulholland (back), Demar Phillips (ankle), Joao Plata (quad contusion).
- GK Nick Rimando (USA/22 caps/38 years old/10 games, 10 starts (462, 462)/4-5-1 (200-155-107), 2.10 GAA/D.C. United) – Rimando earned his 200th career MLS win last week against his former club, D.C. United. Four of his career wins have come against Philadelphia.
- RB Adam Henley (Wales/2 caps/23 years old/4 games, 1 start (4, 1)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Blackburn Rovers (England)) – Making his second start of the season and first at right back after he made his first MLS start at left back against New York City FC on April 11. Came to RSL after seven seasons with Blackburn Rovers in England.
- RCB Marcelo Silva (Uruguay/0 caps/29 years old/3 games, 3 starts (12, 12)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Zaragoza (Spain)) – Making his return to the XI after missing the last five matches due to injury.
- LCB Justen Glad (USA/0 caps/21 years old/10 games, 10 starts (63, 61)/0 goals, 0 assists (2, 1)/RSL Academy/HGP) – Leads Real Salt Lake with 35 interceptions, nine blocks and 45 clearances, ranking third in MLS in interceptions, seventh in blocks and 14th in clearances.
- LB Pablo Ruiz (Argentina/Chile/0 caps/19 years old/5 games, 3 starts (5, 3)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/San Luis (Chile)) – Making his fourth consecutive start at left back. Moved into a wide attacking position last week after Joao Plata went down injured in the first half.
- DM Kyle Beckerman (USA/58 caps/35 years old/10 games, 10starts (442, 413)/0 goals, 0 assists (40, 49)/Colorado Rapids) – Leads Real Salt Lake’s active players with three goals against the Philadelphia Union in his seven matches against them. He shares the club’s all-time lead in the series with Javier Morales.
- CM Damir Kreilach (28 years old/10 games, 10 starts (10, 10)/1 goal, 3 assists (1, 3)/Union Berlin (Germany)/TAM) – Leads RSL in passes in the opponents half and now has two assists on the year as he finds his form in MLS.
- RW Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela/1 cap/21 years old/10 games, 10 starts (32, 29)/2 goals, 2 assist (8, 7)/Zulia (Venezuela)/DP) – Leads RSL with 29 dribbles completed, ranking 8th in MLS. Had one goal and one assist last week against D.C. – the second time in his MLS career he has had at least one goal and one assist in a match.
- CAM Albert Rusnák (Slovakia/10 caps, 1 goal/23 years old/10 games, 10 starts (40, 39)/3 goals, 3 assists (10, 17)/FC Groningen (Holland)/DP) – Leads RSL and ranks second in MLS with 35 chances created. Had one goal and one assist last week to earn MLS Team of the Week honors. It was the second time this season and seventh in his MLS career that he had at least one goal and one assist in a match.
- LW Brooks Lennon (USA/0 caps/20 years old/9 games, 8 starts (33, 22)/0 goals, 1 assists (3, 5)/Liverpool (England)/HGP) – Making his first start as a winger this year for RSL after starting the last eight matches at right back. Leads Real Salt Lake with 21 tackles.
- FW Corey Baird (22 years old/8 games, 5 starts (8, 5)/3 goals, 1 assist (3, 1)/Stanford/HGP) – Earned MLS Goal of the Week honors for his third goal of the season last week against D.C. United.
Bench:
- GK Connor Sparrow (23 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/0-0-0 (0-0-0)/Real Monarchs) – Has two shutouts in four matches with Real Monarchs in the USL after posting seven shutouts in 18 appearances last year to lead the Monarchs to the USL regular season title.
- DF Nick Besler (24 years old/4 games, 4 starts (4, 4)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/Real Monarchs) – Made four consecutive starts at center back with RSL going 2-2-0 in those matches.
- DF Danny Acosta (USA/0 caps/20 years old/2 games, 1 start (19, 17)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 2)/Real Salt Lake Academy/HGP) – Made his only start thus far this season in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids.
- DF Aaron Herrera (20 years old/0 games, 0 starts (0, 0)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 0)/University of New Mexico) – Made his professional debut on April 7, playing 62 minutes in a 1-0 win for Real Monarchs against Phoenix Rising in the USL. Still seeking his first MLS appearance.
- MF Sunny (Nigeria/1 cap/29 years old/3 games, 0 starts (39, 33)/0 goals, 0 assists (1, 2)/Alanyaspor (Turkey)) – Started last year in 1-0 win over D.C. at RFK Stadium, RSL’s last ever match in the historic stadium.
- MF Sebastian Saucedo (21 years old/6 games, 1 start (35, 7)/0 goals, 0 assists (0, 2)/Real Salt Lake Academy) – Has appeared as a substitute in four of RSL’s five road matches this season.
- FW Luis Silva (29 years old/8 games, 6 starts (146, 105)/1 goal, 0 assists (28, 16)/Tigres (Mexico)) – Has one goal and one assist in 10 career matches against Philadelphia, the most appearances against the Union of any current RSL player.
Storylines:
- Real Salt Lake is 4-0-6 all-time against Philadelphia and 1-0-4 all-time at Talen Energy Field.
