Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders FC Match Preview
Real Salt Lake will play host to Seattle Sounders FC in a Western Conference Semi-Final First leg clash on Saturday.
Seattle finished the MLS regular season second laced in the Western Conference, while Salt Lake were one place behind them.
Salt Lake have backed into the playoffs and enter this game looking to snap a six game winless run. “We got to win one soon, eventually, so I guess the best time to do it is in the playoffs,” defender Chris Wingert told the official MLS website.
Nelson Gonzalez is sidelined with injury for Salt Lake, while Tony Beltran and Ned Grabavoy are listed as questionable with adductor strains.
The Sounders have better recent form than Salt Lake but veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller knows that will count for little once the game kicks off.
“Everything goes out of the window now,” Keller told the official MLS website. It doesn’t matter what we did today, three month ago or at the beginning of the season. It’s just two games now, and we have to come out and play the way we’re capable of playing and we’ll be alright.”
Terry Boss and Michael Seamon are sidelined with injury for Seattle, while Steve Zakuani and O’Brian White are also ruled out.
The Sounders are sweating on the fitness of Mauro Rosales who is struggling with a knee problem. The Argentine midfielder is an important presence for Seattle, and registered 13 assists and five goals during the regular season.