Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

Real Salt Lake host their biggest rivals in Sporting Kansas City. Real Salt Lake are looking strong through the first ten games of the season, having just won two away games. SKC have had a tougher start to the year, with only two wins and sitting below the expanded playoff line. Will we see any of the old spark to this game?

Center backs are back

Justen Glad and Brayan Vera are off the injury list this week, after being listed as questionable for the game last week, they were able to start against Philly. Their defensive presence was huge in that game and having this back is a major boost to the squad.

Attacking shuffle

RSL’s new number ten is unlikely to start this game. Matt Crooks suffered an oblique injury against Chicago, which has just moved him to questionable on the injury report. Diego Luna, in contrast, has been upgraded from out to questionable on the report, so we could see some minutes from him. If both Crooks and Luna are out, the team has a few options. One is to start Chang and let someone like Gomez or Barajas play the ten, or have Chicho deeper with Julio up top.

Outside backs

After years of being without a strong left back, it seems that Alex Katranis is that player. He’s had two goals, including last week’s goal of the week, and looked good defensively. The team seems to be placing more faith in Bode Hidalgo, and he’s taken a step forward in his play this year. He might displace Andrew Brody as the starting right back, but there’s some real competition at that spot for the first time in a few years.

Injury report

Out: Bonilla (knee), Ruiz (knee), Silva (hamstring), Holt (hamstring) Questionable: Luna (calf), Crooks (oblique)