Major League Soccer’s regular season continues this weekend as the Sounders travel to Sandy, Utah to take on Real Salt Lake. This game has been picked as the MLS’ Saturday Showdown match of matchday two. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. PST at America First Field on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The Sounders were victorious in their opening day match against the Colorado Rapids, securing a 2-0 home win thanks to goals from Albert Rusnak and Paul Rothrock. The Rave Green will not return to Lumen Field until April 12, thanks to preparations being done in advance for the FIFA World Cup.
Real Salt Lake was one of just three western conference clubs to not earn a single point on opening day. RSL failed to net a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps as they fell 1-0 away at BC Place.
The Red and Blue are expecting their offseason reinforcements to debut this weekend against the Sounders. Signings Juan Sanabria, Juan Jose Arias, Stijn Spierings, and Morgan Guilavogui are all expected to make their first appearances for RSL this weekend.
The Sounders may have some depth pieces back this weekend. Kim Kee-Hee has been trending in the right direction from his preseason injury, and may return to the lineup on the bench. Hassani Dotson also escaped any real harm and is not in concussion protocol despite being subbed off in first-half stoppage time due to a collision.
Jordan Morris has been less lucky. He suffered a Grade 1A quad strain and will be out for at least four weeks. This will keep Morris out of action for the club’s Concacaf Champions Cup matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Round of 16.
The Sounders have not had good fortune when playing in Sandy, Utah. The last MLS victory on the road against Real Salt Lake came back in 2012 (the Sounders won a US Open Cup match via penalty shootout in 2016 against RSL). The Sounders are 16-9-18 in all competitions against RSL, one of the few MLS clubs they have a losing record against.
The Sounders have not scored a goal on the road against RSL in their last six matches, their last goal(s) coming in a 2-2 draw during the 2020 MLS Season. The Sounders are 0-1-5 in those six matches. A scoreless draw in 2023 was the last point the Rave Green earned in Utah.
The injury to Jordan Morris will force a slight change in the starting formation compared to the home opener. Paul Rothrock has more than likely earned the start in place of the injured Morris. The rest of the lineup will probably remain unchanged for Brian Schmetzer.
Following the conclusion of the match this weekend, tune back into House of Sounders for more coverage of the club!
Cover Photo: Earving Marquez / House of Sounders
