Real Salt Lake (3-8-2, 11 pts., 5th West) resumed training at Rice-Eccles Stadium on today in preparation for its final regular-season midweek game against the Los Angeles Galaxy (7-4-2, 23 pts., 2nd West) at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. MT. The team travels to Chicago on Saturday to face the Chicago Fire (7-6-2, 23 pts., 2nd East) at Soldier Field on Sunday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. MT, live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. This marks RSL's first in a period of three of nine games at home heading prior to the July 30 MLS Sierra Mist All-Star Game at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
On June 11, during Week 12, L.A. FW Landon Donovan led LA to a 1-0 win over RSL, scoring his sixth goal of the season in the 52nd minute. MF Cobi Jones sent a centering ball in from the right for Donovan, who slipped in behind RSL DF Brian Dunseth and chested the ball down and fired a 12-yard shot that rolled past RSL GK DJ Countess.
During the teams' first meeting at Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 14, RSL evened the season series at 1-1 with Los Angeles with a 2-1 win over the Galaxy, as DF Eddie Pope and FW Jason Kreis each notched second-half goals in the come-from-behind victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
MATHIS OUT FOR MIDWEEK BATTLE AGAINST GALAXY: RSL MF/FW Clint Mathis picked up his fifth yellow card in 12 games accumulating 22 caution points, incurring a one-game suspension to knock him out of the midweek clash against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Georgia native has two game-winning assists and is the only RSL player to have played in all 13 games for the expansion club, a streak which will come to an end with the opening whistle against the Galaxy.
SUMMER SOCCER EXPLOSION: Real Salt Lake invites the Utah community to experience two fireworks extravaganzas when RSL faces the MetroStars on Independence Day, Monday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. MT and against the Western Conference leaders FC Dallas on Pioneer Day, Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Both nights will be nights filled with world class soccer and Utah's most spectacular fireworks show. Ticket prices for the fireworks extravaganzas are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west, and can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Rice-Eccles Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Groups of 20 or more should contact Real Salt Lake by calling (866) 9-SOCCER.
BACK LINE SHUFFLE RESUMES: RSL DF Eddie Pope is expected to join the U.S. Men's National Team next week in preparation for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup from Wednesday, July 6 potentially through Sunday, July 24 in seven venues in the United States. The 10-year MLS veteran missed two games this month (June 4, FC Dallas and June 11, Los Angeles Galaxy) due to USMNT duties for World Cup Qualifying. The USMNT's first match is against Cuba at Qwest Field on Thursday, July 7 at 8:30 p.m. MT. Two days later, the USMNT will face Canada at Qwest Field on Saturday, July 9 at 2:30 p.m. MT.
RSL's right back, DF Rustin Pierce, is expected to make his return to the RSL lineup after missing the San Jose game, his second, with a right hamstring injury suffered in the 61st minute of the 2-0 loss to FC Dallas at Rice-Eccles Stadium on June 4. Pierce will retain his position at right back where he has been a formidable opponent to MLS offenses this season.
DF Brian Dunseth will be out the RSL lineup for the second consecutive game against the Galaxy on Wednesday, June 22, after starting 10-games in a row beginning with the 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on April 16 in which he scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute off a Mathis free kick. Dunseth's absence is due to a right groin strain suffered in training prior to the San Jose game.
SELOLWANE BACK WITH RSL: RSL FW Dipsy Selolwane started and played a full 90 minutes on Saturday for the Botswana National Team scoring the second goal in the 40th minute in its 3-1 win over Malawi in African World Cup Qualifying. Selolwane returns to the U.S. today and is expected join his RSL teammates for Wednesday game against the Galaxy. Botswana's next World Cup Qualifier is against Morocco on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Selolwane is expected back with RSL for its match against the Galaxy on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. MT.
DONOVAN & KREIS TO PERFORM POST-GAME AUTOGRAPH SESSION ON JUNE 22: RSL fans who purchase tickets to bring a group of 20 to the next home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday, June 22 for Landon Donovan's final regular season visit to Salt Lake will receive a special invitation to a post-game autograph session featuring Donovan and RSL captain Jason Kreis, Major League Soccer's All-Time Leading Scorer. Fans who order premium group tickets, or those who sign up to become premium or VIP Flex Plan Season Ticket holders, will receive this special opportunity. Please call Real Salt Lake at (866) 9-SOCCER or visit www.RealSaltLake.com for more details.
JOIN THE JUNIOR LOYALISTS: RSL invites local youth fans ages 14 and under to join the RSL Kids Club, known as the Chevron Junior Loyalists! The next replica giveaway will be on Wednesday, June 22 where registered Jr. Loyalist members will receive FREE replica Real Salt Lake shorts! Kids 14 and under can sign-up to be a Jr. Loyalist at more than 90 participating Chevron locations along the Wasatch Front. The Los Angeles Galaxy game represents the second of five Junior Loyalist "build-a-uniform" dates, with the other RSL memorabilia nights as follows:
DAY/DATE -- GIVEAWAY
Wednesday, June 22 -- Replica shorts
Saturday, Aug. 13 -- Replica socks / shinguards
Saturday, Sept. 3 -- RSL soccer ball
Saturday, Sept. 24 -- RSL uniform bag
Pick up a registration form at any of the more than 90 Wasatch Front Chevron locations!
RSL INJURY:
PLAYER -- STATUS -- INJURY
DF Brian Dunseth -- OUT -- R groin strain
DF Rustin Pierce -- PROBABLE -- R hamstring strain
DF Eddie Pope -- PROBABLE -- R knee bruise
GET YOUR FLEX ON WITH ONLY REMAINING SEASON TICKET OPTION: RSL's Flex Season Ticket Package is comprised of 20 vouchers in the same price category (North Goal, Corner Flag, Premium and VIP) that allows the purchaser to determine which games they would like to see in the regular season and how many tickets needed for that game. Prices for the 2005 Flex Package are $260 for the North Goal, $320 for the Corner Flag, $440 for the East Sideline and $560 for the VIP seats. Tickets can be redeemed in the following way: one could use all the vouchers and bring 20 people to one game or 4 people could attend five games. Flex vouchers are significantly discounted from day of game pricing, making it an even greater value. Vouchers can be redeemed in advance through the Real Salt Lake Front Office by mail or in person or on the day of the game at the Real Salt Lake Customer Service Window. Seating is best available per price category at the time of redemption.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE: Real Salt Lake single-game tickets for its inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium continue to be on sale both online and at the University of Utah Ticket Office, located at the Stadium's south end. Individual game prices are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west. Individual game tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, by logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Fans are continued to be encouraged to purchase in advance.
ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter on our website at http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/fans/.
REAL ELITE TRAINING PROGRAM: The Real Elite Training Program is a progressive summer training program for boys and girls ages 8-16 with previous playing experience and a strong desire to reach their maximum potential. There are a total of 20 sessions, three days a week and two hours per day. The benefits of the program include: exposure to the highest level of training; specializing in technique, tactic, fitness and teamwork; training from RSL soccer players and coaches; and adidas training shirts and ticket voucher to a select game. For more information, contact Teresa Nelson by phone at (801) 924-8565, by email at tnelson@RealSaltLake.com or by logging onto http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/player_development/.
