It's been a rough few days for Real Salt Lake – and the 4-0 loss to Seattle on Saturday might be the least of the team's problems.
As expected, the team's all-time leading scorer, Alvaro Saborio, is out three to four months. And midfielder Sebastian Velasquez is dealing with a DUI charge.
Which puts the loss in Seattle in perspective.
“To be honest with you, I just told the guys to discount the third and fourth goals because we were pushing and we knew we were going to be exposed at the back,” RSL coach Jeff Cassar told reporters after Saturday's match. “But I thought the commitment level was there. It was a very even match in the first half for sure. Two dead-ball situations – the PK and the free kick – then the rest was just breaks on counters.
“It’s a tough place to play and we don’t have a full arsenal, but I thought the guys out there did a very good job.”
The team traveled straight from Seattle to Columbus, where RSL faces the Crew on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE). In the meantime, back in Salt Lake City, Saborio was undergoing what the team called “successful” foot surgery on his right fifth metatarsal.
“I’m pleased to say that Alvaro’s surgery went very well this afternoon,” RSL team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cooper said in a prepared statement.
“We inserted a screw and injected some bone marrow around the fracture site to promote healing. I expect him to get back to 100 percent once the fracture fully heals.”
Saborio suffered the injury while training with the Costa Rican national team. He'll miss the World Cup as well as a large part of RSL's regular-season schedule.
And the team is struggling offensively right now — scoreless in its last two matches, and running low on forwards.
Devon Sandoval and Olmes Garcia played the full game on Saturday and are RSL's only altogether healthy forwards. Robbie Findley was in the 18 after being subbed in late in the previous game, but he's still working his way back from major offseason knee surgery.
- Catch the latest RSL news at RealSaltLake.com
Joao Plata, whose six goals ties Saborio for the lead this season, is expected to be available on Wednesday — and he may start — after suffering his second hamstring strain of the season.
And the team remains without goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder/captain Kyle Beckerman, who made the US national team's 23-man roster and are headed to Brazil for the World Cup.
Also this week, the news broke that Velasquez was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence on May 19. He was charged with DUI Class B misdemeanor and Class C misdemeanor speeding on May 27, according to the case file from the Salt Lake City Justice Court. Velasquez has pleaded not guilty.
According to RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey, the team is dealing with the matter internally. Velasquez is expected to return to training with the team by the end of the week.
