Real Salt Lake Hope To Pick up First Point On The Road Against Minnesota This Upcoming Sunday
Sep 25, 2020, 1:51 PM
Aaron Herrera #22 of Real Salt Lake battles for the ball with Thomas Chacon #11 of Minnesota United during a Group D match as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 17, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake is preparing to go on the road for the first time in weeks, in fact, the last road trip the club took was to the same venue in which they are heading to this upcoming Sunday; Minnesota.
Minnesota Has Not Been Kind
The result three weeks ago did not go the way the club would have hoped. Despite a very impressive first half in which RSL looked like the more dangerous team, the second half included four conceded goals which would eventually result in a disappointing 4-0 loss.
Remarkably, RSL has never won a game in Minnesota. They have never picked up a single point in their four trips to the twin cities.
“As professionals, we do not think about the past. We can only control what the weekends game has in store,” Nedum Onuoha said.
Since that loss, RSL has played every match at home where they have managed two wins and two losses.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has only managed to win one game in the four matches since RSL and Minnesota last met. That lone victory came in the match following the 4-0 win over RSL when they beat FC Dallas 3-2 despite ending the match with 10 men.
The Western Conference Race
The Western Conference standings are a tight race, Minnesota and RSL are separated by just one point. Minnesota sits on 18 points and in the seventh position while RSL has 17 points are one spot behind Minnesota in eighth.
Too hot to handle pic.twitter.com/CVzdPylSAb
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 25, 2020
A win for RSL could catapult them into the playoff picture.
Kei Kamara
Minnesota United recently signed MLS veteran and goal scorer Kei Kamara from Colorado Rapids. The move bolsters the attack for Minnesota and will provide more headaches for the Real Salt Lake backline.
The move to Minnesota United will mark the eighth MLS club that Kamara has played for since beginning his MLS career with the Colombus Crew in 2006. He is one of only ten players to have scored more than 100 goals in the league, achieving the record through 300 league appearances.
Kamara, however, is not the only threat in front of the goal for Minnesota. Kevin Molino currently leads the team with six goals while Robin Lod, who scored twice the last time RSL and Minnesota met, has five goals next to his name.
Happy to make my first appearance for the #Loons (@MNUFC). Would have walk away with a point only if #VAR was actually working tonight. #OnToTheNextOne #VOTE2020 pic.twitter.com/Kao6A5BSpp
— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) September 24, 2020
Slovakian midfielder Jan Gregus leads the team with six assists and much like his fellow countrymen, Albert Rusnak, is very dangerous and elusive when left open. Defensively, RSL has their hands full as they attempt to slow down the formidable attacking threats that Minnesota offers.
Game Info
Minnesota and RSL will kick off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th at Allianz Field.
The match can be viewed for free on sports.ksl.com or on the KSL TV app.
