Real Salt Lake Must Win In Midweek Match Up With Galaxy
Sep 22, 2020, 11:55 AM
Chris Pontius #12 of Los Angeles Galaxy and Nedum Onuoha #14 of Real Salt Lake go up for a header during a game at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 28, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
(Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has 11 games left on the 2020 regular season if they hope to solidify themselves in the Western Conference playoff picture and it all starts this Wednesday evening against the LA Galaxy.
Tough Sledding
Currently, RSL sits in 11th position in the Western Conference, just three points clear of the conferences worst team the San Jose Earthquakes. Results as of late have not been going in favor of RSL as the claret and cobalt have only won two of their last seven matches since the season restarted following the conclusion of the MLS Is Back tournament.
"The beauty of this condensed schedule is we have another chance to get a result on Wednesday."#RSL | @AFCU pic.twitter.com/ew9y6BoOZN
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 22, 2020
Of those seven games, the club has played four of them at home.
However, despite results now swaying in favor of RSL, the club has been playing a good brand of soccer and head coach Freddy Juarez is not concerned.
“I am encouraged by the mentality of the players, the fight, what we were doing today in passing and chasing and then we went a man down and I felt as though we had more control of the game at that point,” Juarez said following the 2-1 loss to Vancouver last weekend.
During that game, RSL took 25 total shots while the Whitecaps only managed 8. RSL controlled 60 percent possession and controlled all facets of the game except the scoreboard.
The final touch lacked for RSL against Vancouver, they could not finish.
For RSL to begin their climb up the Western Conference finishing must come as a premium. They will need to capitalize on their opportunities and put scoreboard pressure on their opponents. Thus far, 2020 has been the year of playing from behind for RSL.
Get To Know The Galaxy
While RSL sits down the bottom of the West, the Galaxy is sitting in the middle in 8th spot tied with Vancouver on 15 points.
The Galaxy struggled in the early goings of 2020, however, they have managed to turn their season around since play began towards the end of August.
Following the MLS Is Back tournament in which the Galaxy were eliminated in the group stage, they have since won four of their past six matches. Their lone loss came last weekend when the in-form Colorado Rapids beat them 2-0 in Los Angeles.
Cristian Pavon leads the Galaxy in goals and assists with six goals and four assists respectively. Sebastian Lletget is also very dangerous as he has scored four goals on the year.
David Bingham is the man between the sticks and has three shutouts next to his name in 2020.
𝔹𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕒𝕓 🧪 pic.twitter.com/P8OyPbBd1Y
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 21, 2020
Star striker Javier Chicharito has been sidelined since the middle of July with a calf injury, although, his return is imminent and a road matchup with RSL could also signify the return for the Mexican international star.
Both RSL and the Galaxy have scored 17 goals on the season, however, the Galaxy have only conceded 21 while RSL has conceded 24.
Match Information
Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23rd, for 7:30 p.m.
You can watch the game on sports.ksl.com or by downloading the KSL TV app.
