CSD Municipal vs. Real Salt Lake
2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League
August 4 | 10 pm ET | Estadio Mateo Flores
TV: Fox Soccer Plus
2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up Real Salt Lake make their return to the tournament for the first time since 2012-13 with a trip to Guatemala City to face CSD Municipal to kick off play in Group G. It’s an inauspicious time for RSL, however, after they lost a wild 6-4 shootout to D.C. United over the weekend to drop them out of the MLS playoff positions, threatening their seven-consecutive year postseason run. But they’ll have to be at their best right away as the Guatemalan runners-up are likely to be RSL’s main competition in the group, and an away goal would be a nice marker for the second leg back at Rio Tinto in October.
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ROAD WARRIORS: Travel is always part of the equation when it comes to CCL, and that is especially true for RSL’s tournament opener. Tuesday’s match in Guatemala City comes on the heels of RSL’s loss at D.C. United on Saturday. They’ll then return to Salt Lake City before having to hit the road again for a Saturday match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The road has not been kind to RSL this year, either, as they've lost their last six games away from Rio Tinto.
COACHING CAROUSEL: Municipal are breaking in their fourth coach in the last two years after former Costa Rican international Mauricio Wright was hired to replace Enzo Trossero, who was let go in June just six months after he made a return to the Reds. Wright, who played three seasons in MLS with the San Jose Clash (1999-2000) and New England Revolution (2000-01), takes over after a season at Costa Rican side Herediano.
INJURY REPORT: RSL are a bit banged up heading into the match with defenders Chris Schuler (knee soreness) and Jamison Olave (right quad strain) left off the travel roster. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (knee contusion), midfielder Jordan Allen (hamstring) and forward Luis Silva (groin) are also all questionable.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH:
JAVIER MORALES, RSL: Morales, who at 35 is still the offensive centerpiece for RSL, is one of a number of players who were a part of the team that was bounced in the group stage in the 2012-13 tournament – including Rimando, Olave and right back Tony Beltran. He has five goals and nine assists in 16 league games this season.
CARLOS RUIZ, MUNICIPAL: Another finely aged player will line up up opposite RSL and Morales in 35-year-old Ruiz. He has scored 33 goals in 57 matches since re-joining Municipal in February of last year. He’s well known around these parts, too, as Ruiz's 88 MLS goals is tied for 10th most in league history. He won the 2002 MLS MVP award with the LA Galaxy and has 182 regular-season appearances across parts of nine MLS seasons to his name.
