Having already secured a place in this season's playoffs, Real Salt Lake welcome a top-nine chasing Sporting Kansas City to America Field First on Saturday night in MLS.
The hosts recorded a memorable win at Los Angeles FC last weekend which was ultimately enough to seal their spot in the post-season, whilst Sporting still have plenty of work to do after losing against St Louis City last time out.
Match preview
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Following a difficult run of results on their MLS travels, Real Salt Lake secured their first away victory domestically since July 2 by narrowly beating Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium in California, with the decisive goal coming from a familiar face for both sides.
Substitute Rubio Rubin had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before delivering an enticing cross for striker Cristian Arango, who rose magnificently to head his side to a much-needed success against his former employers.
Pablo Mastroeni appreciated the beauty in Arango netting the winning strike against his old club, and the 47-year-old's side were secured of their spot in the post-season after results went their way in the Western Conference during the week.
Salt Lake did move into second following that win at BMO Stadium, but only momentarily, and they are now fourth in the Western Conference standings having collected an impressive 46 points from 31 MLS matches, although Mastroeni's men do possess a negative goal difference -unlike any other outfit in the top six.
The goalscoring responsibility has been shared around the Utah-based club so far in 2023 with Jefferson Savarino, Danny Musovski and Justen Glad all boasting five strikes to their name, making them the joint-top scorer after Colombian marksmen Arango.
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Sporting Kansas City were unable to record back-to-back victories in MLS to significantly improve their chances of making the playoffs, losing 4-1 at Western Conference leaders St Louis City on Sunday night.
Peter Vermes's side were under immense pressure from the outset in Missouri and did remarkably well to keep the scores level until the 73rd minute, but as soon as Samuel Adeniran opened the scoring for the hosts, there was an inevitability about the result at an expectant CITYPARK.
With Sporting KC currently two points behind ninth-placed Dallas with only two matches left to play, a defeat on Saturday night would essentially end their chances of competing in the playoffs - a minimum expectation for the group at the beginning of the term.
Key to the visitors' success this weekend will be Mexican striker Alan Pulido, with the 32-year-old netting 13 goals in 26 MLS appearances to date in 2023 - a record which was enough to see him rewarded with a fresh long-term contract at Children's Mercy Park.
Vermes's men have struggled to collect regular points on their MLS outings so far, picking up just 12 points in 16 league away matches, and you feel a win in Utah this weekend is necessary to keep their top-nine ambitions alive.
Team News
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Real Salt Lake will be light in defence on Saturday due to the injury of Erik Holt, with the 27-year-old currently sidelined because of a shoulder issue sustained in late August, although he should return in time to feature part in the playoffs.
German midfielder Jasper Loffelsend has been a consistent performer in the hosts' engine room since making the switch from his homeland in January 2022, but he is set to miss this weekend's clash due to an ankle injury.
Pablo Ruiz has provided a commendable eight goal contributions in 17 MLS appearances as Salt Lake prepare for life in the post-season, a and the Argentinian continues his rehabilitation from a knee issue sustained in August.
Sporting Kansas City have been unable to hand youngster Kayden Pierre an abundance of opportunities in the first team this year due to a hamstring injury, with the 20-year-old defender playing just five minutes of league action in 2023.
Kortne Ford has been sidelined for the entirety of the 2023 campaign so far and is not expected back even if his side reach the playoffs, with the centre-back recovering from a severe Achilles tendon injury.
Vermes's woes in defence continue due to the absence of left-back Tim Leibold - the German has struggled with fitness issues since joining the club from Bundesliga 2 outfit Hamburg in January.
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Brody, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Ojeda, Palacio, Gomez, Savarino, Luna; Arango
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Davis, Rosero, Fontas, Ndenbe; Thommy, Radoja, Gutierrez; Shelton, Salloi, Pulido
We say: Real Salt Lake 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
Real Salt Lake already know their place in the playoffs is secured, but Mastroeni's men will not be resting on their laurels as they seek to seal home-field advantage in the post-season.
Sporting KC are running out of opportunities to string wins together this term, and we feel that the visitors at America First Field will only be good enough for a point.
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Top tip
Carter White
