- RSL’ eight-game unbeaten run is over
- Salt Lake are 3-0-3 in last six games vs. New York
- April 18, 2009, last time New York beat RSL
It will be a very tasty clash between these two at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, there’s no doubt about that.
Real Salt Lake head to New York top of the West and have the best record in MLS, while the home side are hoping they can make ground on first-placed Sporting KC in the East.
Last time out RSL were involved in a controversial clash with Sporting KC, as Chris Wingert was sent off and a late Ike Opara goal handed Jason Kreis’ side their first defeat in nine.
While New York couldn’t score against a stingy Toronto outfit and succumbed to a disappointing 0-0 tie up at BMO Field.
So both will hope to get back to winning ways.
Kreis’ squad has been hit heavily by the Gold Cup, with veteran ‘keeper Nick Rimando, defender Tony Beltran and captain Kyle Beckerman all on duty for the US. This clash is also intriguing as former RSL stars Fabian Espindola and Jamison Olave will be facing up against their old team. They were part of a double trade over the offseason that raised plenty of eyebrows around the league. This game is the only time the two sides will meet this season, so Olave and Espindola will have to put past friendships to one side and do battle.
For New York, they desperately want to record a win against RSL after not tasting success in their previous six matches. They’ve lost three in a row to Salt Lake and have won just three out of the 15 games all-time. If the Red Bulls do manage to grab all three points, they’d be just one point behind SKC in the Eastern conference standings. New signing Bradley Wright-Phillips may feature for New York.
The game is available to watch on MLS Live at 7pm ET on Saturday.
What they’re saying
New York head coach Mike Petke on RSL: “They have a system that they play that Jason [Kreis] has been working on for years and he has the right players in there so that when they do miss key players they have players to step right in and they don’t miss a beat. They’re very organized behind the ball, they like to come very narrow in the midfield and possess the ball, get numbers up to play the ball around you, and they have outside fullbacks that like to get forward and are a danger up top whoever it is, [Alvaro] Saborio, [Robbie] Findley. These guys are fast paced players who have a nose for the ball.”
Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill: “They’re scoring their goals and obviously not conceding a lot but there they seem to get the edge on a lot of teams but you know for us we’re very good at home. We put on a great performance against Montreal and you know the pressure was on then, so I suppose it’s up to us to step up to the challenge again.”
New York’s captain Thierry Henry: “For me, since I have been in this league, Salt Lake has been the best team by a distance. But as you know here you have to win the MLS Cup. You know if it was in any other league, Real Salt Lake would have been champions this year, like in terms of consistency.”
RSL’s Ned Grabavoy on the loss to Sporting: “I thought we were in a good spot there until the red card. We were up 1-0 and thought we were playing really well, for the most part. Things were tight in the back. We were in a good position until that point. Obviously it was under tough circumstances. On a different night we probably walk out of here with a point, but we don’t. So we need a reaction next week.”
Prediction
This could be the time for the Red Bulls to pounce and have yet another marquee win at home. They absolutely battered Montreal at home two weeks ago, and with a weakened Salt Lake side and a long trip cross-country, the Red Bulls may finally break their jinx against Jason Kreis’ side. That defeat to Sporting KC was demoralizing and RSL must react positively. It will be a huge battle, but Henry may have something special up his sleeve to decide this one.
