Deportivo Saprissa vs Real Salt Lake Match Preview
Three weeks ago at the Rio Tinto, a Costa Rican striker set the tone for the match's final result by scoring the opening salvo. Unfortunately for Saprissa, that was not of their own doing - Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio opened the game up nine minutes after the first whistle in order to push the MLS squad to a comfortable but by no means overwhelming 2-0 win.
Fabian Espindola scored the second goal during a cold and unforgiving Utah evening. Controversially, a Saprissa goal was disallowed in the 24th minute, a goal that would've given the Purple Monster a better shot at getting a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Looking ahead, the Costa Rican side needs to win 2-0 to force overtime and maybe penalties; any other two-goal win for Saprissa means that RSL move to the next round, as they would hold the away goal tiebreaker. Thus, an all-out offensive is expected, and the Central Americans will attempt to break open a tough RSL defense by scoring early and often in order to back the Americans into a corner.
Prior to the first match, RSL were still in pre-season mode with the MLS season not having started. Now, Saprissa will find a finely tuned squad in front of them, that has secured impressive wins over LA Galaxy and San Jose in the start of the season within American football.