Real Salt Lake to Make '08 Road Debut Saturday at Chivas USA
After gaining a point out of last Saturday's season opener against Chicago, Real Salt Lake (0-0-1, 1 pt.) will take to the road for the first time in the young MLS season this Saturday, April 5, when Utah's side will head to The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. for an 8:30 p.m. MT kick-off against Chivas USA (0-0-1, 1 pt.). The reunion of the 2005 expansion partners can be seen live on high-definition network HDNet and on the MLS Direct Kick pay-per-view package (DirecTV, DishNet & InDemand channel listings available later this week), and fans can also follow the action live over the radio airwaves on KALL 700 Sports (English) - with pre-game coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. - and Ke Buena 1600 AM (Spanish).
Real Salt Lake will look to avenge losses in all three contests against Chivas USA last season, which lowered RSL's career record against its expansion brethren to 2-6-3. Real Salt Lake is in search of its first road win against the "Goats" after going 0-5-1 in its first six such contests, a record that also contributes to RSL's meager 2-9-1 career mark at The Home Depot Center when combining the team's results against Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy over the past three seasons. Saturday's contest will mark the first contest for Chivas USA forwards Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris against their former RSL side.
RSL Kicks off 2008 MLS Reserve Division Schedule against Chivas USA on Sunday
Real Salt Lake will begin its 12-game slate in MLS Reserve Division play this Sunday, April 6, when the RSL Reserves will square off against their counterparts from Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., with kick-off slated for 11:00 a.m. MT. The fourth season of the MLS Reserve Division will be played in an intra-conference format, with all opponents playing their six conference partners both home and away to determine the Eastern and Western winners. For more information on the MLS Reserve Division, including the full 2008 season schedule, visit www.MLSnet.com/mls/Reserve.
RSL Rewind: Blanco Blast Makes RSL Settle for 1-1 Draw in Season Opener
A goal 90 seconds into second half stoppage time from Chicago Fire MF Cuauhtémoc Blanco forced Real Salt Lake into a share of the spoils with the "Men in Red" last Saturday, the Mexican international's late tally bringing the 2008 season opener for both squads to its 1-1 final scoreline in front of an MLS opening weekend best audience of 20,272 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium. After controlling play for much of the match but seeing no results on the scoreboard, Real Salt Lake got a little help from Fire DF Bakary Soumare, whose redirect of a dangerous cross from RSL MF Dema Kovalenko would up beating Chicago 'keeper Jon Busch to put RSL on top 1-0 in the 71st minute. A stout defensive effort by the new-look RSL backline of Ian Joy, Matías Mantilla, Nat Borchers and Chris Wingert made it a relatively easy day for RSL netminder Nick Rimando, who was forced to make only one save on the afternoon.
Beltran and Borchers Lead this Week's Charge to Real Sports Kiosks
RSL defenders Tony Beltran and Nat Borchers will head to the Real Sports kiosk at Fashion Place Mall in Murray this week to sign autographs from 6:00-7:00 p.m., with Beltran leading off on Wednesday, April 2, and Borchers' turn following on Thursday, April 3. Fans heading to any of the three Real Sports kiosks throughout the Wasatch Front can take advantage of the Real Sports Item of the Week - the new RSL yellow pre-game jersey - which will be available for just $35 through April 12 (a $10 savings). Fans can also purchase tickets to any of RSL's regular season home contests and pick up any pieces from the new '08 line of officially-licensed RSL/adidas merchandise at the Real Sports kiosks located at:
Fashion Place Mall - 6161 S. State St. in Murray
Valley Fair Mall - 3601 S. 2700 West in West Valley City
Provo Towne Centre - 1200 Town Centre Blvd. in Provo
RSL on the Air: April 1-6, 2008 (all times MDT)
Tuesday, April 1
• RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis, DF Ian Joy, and MF Kenny Cutler on the KALL 700 Sports' "RSL Coaches Corner" with Bill Riley - 6:00-7:00 p.m.; location TBA
Wednesday, April 2
• RSL GM Garth Lagerwey on KALL 700 Sports' "The Bill Riley Show" at 4:20 p.m.
Thursday, April 3
• RSL GM Garth Lagerwey on 1280 The Zone's "The Big Show" with Gordon Monson and Kevin Graham at 4:20 p.m.
Saturday, April 5
• RSL at Chivas USA - 8:30 p.m. MT
- TV: HDNet and MLS Direct Kick pay-per-view package
<br> - Radio: KALL 700 Sports (English) with Bill Riley and Brian Kamler; Pre-game with Spencer Checketts and Spencer Warne begins at 7:30 p.m.; Post-game show follows at 10:45 p.m.
<br> - Radio: Ke Buena AM 1600 (Spanish) with Luis Rivas and Nelson Moran
RSL-Chicago Match Available on Comcast Cable On Demand
Fans that subscribe to the Comcast Cable digital package can catch all the action of Real Salt Lake's season-opening 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire beginning today via the Comcast Cable On Demand feature. Viewers can head to Channel 1 (On Demand), choose the "Utah on Demand" menu and head to the "Sports" section to find the Real Salt Lake archives, which will feature most RSL matches throughout the 2008 season in addition to some classic RSL contests from the team's first three seasons.
David Beckham to Appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Tomorrow, April 1
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will be a guest on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday, April 1. The show airs at 10:35 p.m. MT on NBC affiliate KSL-5 in Salt Lake City; check local listings for the channel in your area. Other guests scheduled to appear on the show include Sherri Shepherd of "The View" and musical guest The B-52's. Beckham, who played the full 90 minutes in the Galaxy's opener last Saturday at Colorado after earning his 100th cap for England earlier in the week, will head to Salt Lake City with the rest of the Los Angeles squad on Saturday, May 3, to take on Real Salt Lake in their only visit of the 2008 season to the Wasatch Front. Tickets for the RSL-Galaxy May 3rd contest are now available by visiting www.RealSaltLake.com or calling the RSL Front Office at 801-924-8585.
