REAL SALT LAKE vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
RIO TINTO STADIUM, Sandy, Utah
March 12, 2016 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #13)
4 PM ET (MLS LIVE)
A Western Conference meeting that has taken on the air of a battle of rivals in recent years is rejoined when Real Salt Lake entertain Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real open their 2016 home campaign after being hauled back into a 2-2 draw following two late, late goals by Orlando City SC in their season opener. Sounders FC hit the road after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City in their CenturyLink Field opener.
- Joao Plata scored a pair of goals in a game for a second time in his MLS career, but Real were hauled back into a 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC in their season opener as the home side scored twice in stoppage time. Plata’s first 2-goal game also came on the road, in 2014.
- Sounders FC suffered a 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City in their season opener at CenturyLink Field, putting an end to a seven-game home undefeated streak in MLS league and cup play dating back to last season.
- Sounders FC have won the last four meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field, following a 3-1 win there in the season finale last year. RSL have scored goals on their last two visits to Seattle; they had gone more than two seasons, dating back to 2012, without scoring at CenturyLink Field.
- Sounders FC last won in league play at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 28, 2011, a span of five games. Real have won their last four home games vs. Seattle.
REFEREE: Juan Guzman. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Allen Chapman
MLS Career: 63 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 15
SUSPENDED: RSL: Demar Phillips (through March 13) … SEA: Oniel Fisher (through March 13)
DISABLED LIST: SEA: Roman Torres
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (17 meetings): Real 7 wins, 18 goals … Sounders FC 6 wins, 21 goals … Ties 4
AT SEATTLE (8 meetings): Real 5 wins, 12 goals … Sounders FC 1 wins, 6 goals … Ties 2
RETURN MATCHES: 8/14: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m. ET (FS1); 10/23: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 4 p.m. ET
LAST YEAR (MLS):
8/22: RSL 2, SEA 0 (Morales 12; Jaime 19)
10/25: SEA 3, RSL 1 (Dempsey 5, 20; Pappa 10 - Gil 77)
- Sounders FC have won the last four meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field, following a 3-1 win there in the season finale last year. RSL have scored goals on their last two visits to Seattle; they had gone more than two seasons, dating back to 2012, without scoring at CenturyLink Field.
- Sounders FC last won in league play at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 28, 2011, a span of five games. Real have won their last four home games vs. Seattle.
- Coaches record: Sigi Schmid vs. RSL: P23 W9 L9 D5 Ö Jeff Cassar vs. SEA: P5 W2 L3 D0
