This time of year, four days without an MLS team playing a competitive game seems like a long time.
MLS fans do have a game to tune into on Tuesday night, however, as Real Salt Lake will fill the gap with a friendly against recently crowned USL PRO champions Sacramento Republic, streamed live via RealSaltLake.com at 9:30 pm ET.
Despite being a mid-week game during the school year, less than 2,000 tickets remain for the game as Real Salt Lake aim for a 15th sellout in 17 home matches this season, including the club's other home friendly, a 1-1 tie against Mexico's Tijuana on Aug. 12.
September 30, 2014
UPDATE: The game has since sold out.
RSL are coming off of a 2-1 loss at Vancouver on Saturday, with their lead for third place in the Western Conference down to just one point over FC Dallas ahead of RSL's Sunday game at Chivas USA (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
Sacramento beat Harrisburg 2-0 on Saturday night to win the USL PRO title in their inaugural season, and the Republic's roster includes Salt Lake City native and former MLS veteran Justin Braun (Salt Lake Tribune story). In their only other game against MLS opposition, in the US Open Cup, Braun gave Sacramento a 1-0 lead, but the San Jose Earthquakes rallied for a 2-1 win.
Sacramento head coach Preki, one of the best players in MLS history with the Kansas City Wizards and Miami Fusion and a former head coach with both Chivas USA and Toronto FC, told Extra Time Radio on Monday that he believes his team could compete in MLS, so while it may be a friendly, expect intensity on both sides on Tuesday night.
