Real Salt Lake played a scrimmage on Saturday at America First Field against the club’s USL affiliate Real Monarchs SLC. Using a lineup devoid of any players that started in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal series with Tigres on Wednesday and while using some players out of position, RSL struggled to find their offensive rhythm, but held strong defensive side and the 50-minute match ended 0-0.
Just before the half, Ricardo Velazco nearly got the Monarchs on the board, but he put his opportunity just wide. RSL threatened going the other way, but the half-chance was extinguished when Lalo Fernandez got to the cross and Emilio Orozco blocked the putback attempt at the top of the box.
The Monarchs had a pair of opportunities in the second half, too, but couldn’t put them away in the scoreless draw.
RSL’s lineup on Saturday’s scrimmage was Jeff Attinella; Chris Wingert, Justen Glad, Phanuel Kavita, Danilo Acosta; John Stertzer, Luke Mulholland; Omar Holness, Jordan Allen, Olmes Garcia; Devon Sandoval.
Upcoming Opponents
Real Salt Lake’s foes in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, Tigres, squared off with another Liga MX side in Champions League in hosting Club America on Saturday. After falling behind in the 69th minute, Tigres poured it on with four unanswered goals from Damian Alvarez in 72nd minute, Juninho on a penalty in the 75th minute, Andre-Pierre Gignac in the 83rd minute and Rafael Sobis in the 84th minute to score a 4-1 win. The victory moves Tigres to fourth in Liga MX as Gignac extended his league-leading goal lead with his eighth goal of the season.
RSL will open MLS regular season play on Sunday on the road against Orlando City SC and the second-year MLS club had a strong finish to its preseason slate on Saturday. Defender Seb Hines scored four goals (all assisted by Kaka) as Orlando City swamped Bahia from Brazil 6-1 in the preseason finale. Pedro Ribeiro and Darwin Ceren scored additional goals for OCSC in the win, but Hines was the big story.
“To score four is something I’m very proud of. I couldn’t believe I had the opportunity [to score four goals],” Hines told OrlandoCitySC.com. “Working on the head set piece has been really important and it has really paid off. We have the players with the stature to do it and working has really paid off. I hope I can continue to score off of corners and set pieces and help the team.”
