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Real Salt Lake
Major League Soccer
Jul 9, 2023 at 2.30am UK
Rio Tinto Stadium
Orlando City

Salt Lake
4 - 0
Orlando City

Arango (23'), Glad (41'), Savarino (78'), Julio (88')
Luna (53'), Ojeda (62'), Vera (70')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Cartagena (38'), Santos (43')

Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sunday morning's MLS action brings the Western Conference face-to-face with the Eastern Conference when Real Salt Lake hosts Orlando City at America First Field.

Salt Lake are undefeated in all competitions since the start of June, while Orlando are on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.


Match preview

Real Salt Lake midfielder Damir Kreilach (8) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Odd as it sounds, Salt Lake may be unhappy at returning to Utah to host Orlando this weekend due to their wretched results in front of their fans.

Pablo Mastroeni's team have the second-fewest points accrued at home (10) in the Western Conference, which is a stark contrast to having the best road record in that section, picking up 20 points from 11 games on their travels.

Those away points account for RSL's standing in the playoff spots, and they could rise as high as second in the Western Conference if they win this weekend and both Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC lose their games.

However, an awful record on their turf means the home side cannot look that far ahead but look downwards in the table, with fifth-placed Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo all closing in on Mastroeni's men.

Failure to score in three of the last five at their ground inspires little confidence, even if they have picked up draws in three of four in front of their fans.

Orlando City SC forward Duncan McGuire (13) celebrates his goal with teammates on April 16, 2023© Reuters

Orlando could inflict Salt Lake's fifth home defeat in this year's MLS by making the most of their impressive road form this season.

Oscar Pareja's troops have picked up more away points than anyone in the Eastern Conference, and success this weekend would add to the 15 they have accrued.

Only Charlotte FC (15) have netted more than the Lions' 14 road goals, a statistic that puts Orlando in a positive light because the former have played two more away games than Pareja's side.

The visitors are four points clear of Salt Lake in the combined MLS table and are guaranteed to stay ahead regardless of the result this weekend.

Due to the five-point lead they have on eighth-placed DC United; Orlando are also guaranteed to remain in the top seven regardless of the upcoming game's outcome.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:


Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):


Orlando City Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Real Salt Lake midfielder Maikel Chang (16) celebrates after scoring a goal on May 10, 2023© Reuters

Zack Farnsworth (hamstring) and Axel Kei (ankle) are ruled out, having not played all season for RSL.

Erik Holt has not played since injuring his shoulder in May, and the defender is sidelined this weekend.

Abdi Salim is still absent with a knee injury and will not feature for Orlando on Sunday morning.

Cesar Araujo had a storming game in the Lions' 4-0 thrashing of Toronto FC, scoring and assisting in the resounding victory, and the central midfielder could have a decisive say in this weekend's outcome.


Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Savarino, Ojeda, Loffelsend, Luna; Musovski, Kreilach

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Smith, Carlos, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire


SM words green background

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 Orlando City

Despite failing to win their last two on the road, Orlando are expected to claim a slender win over Salt Lake, whose egregious home form should result in a fifth defeat in front of their supporters.

How to watch

You can watch Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Salt Lake vs Orlando City

Real Salt Lake
17.6%
Draw
23.5%
Orlando City
58.8%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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