Real Salt Lake return to Rio Tinto Stadium (RioT) on Saturday evening, as they get set to host the floundering San Jose Earthquakes.
Real Salt Lake currently sit 5th in the Western Conference, occupying a playoff spot. Whereas the Earthquakes are enduring a difficult season so far and can be found second bottom, above only Colorado Rapids.
The return from the World Cup break have helped an injury-riddled club at RSL get healthier and subdued the transfer drama involving Midfielder Albert Rusnak and his public comments last month about receiving a new contract or getting a transfer back to Europe.
San Jose are winless in their last seven matches and desperately need to stop an RSL team which has won six league matches in a row at the RioT this season and another three points for RSL would break a club record for consecutive league home wins.
RSL are winless in their last two games, a 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City in the US Open Cup and followed that with a 3-0 road loss where they were unable to control Zlatan in their first encounter with him.
The Earthquakes desperately need to get a result to avoid another season without a playoff appearance, but their listless attack and torrid defence will prevent them from accomplishing that goal.
RSL should overwhelm the Earthquakes and don’t be surprised if Goalkeeper Nick Rimando adds another clean sheet Saturday night at the RioT. RSL started their playoff push this time last season after an early summer break and I expect them to do the same here with their tilt with the Earthquakes.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake 3-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Written by Allen Corbin – (@AllenCorbin)
