SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake is traveling in shape to Providence Park in Portland, Oregon and is eager to continue the rise of the Western Conference under Pablo Mastroeni.
Mastroeni has been interim manager for five games, in which he won three and lost two. However, he enters the game against Portland after leading his team to consecutive wins against San Jose and Seattle Sounders respectively.
The team’s new form has played a key role in achieving Real Salt Lake results. The 3-5-2 created a more dynamic, efficient style of play that emphasized the impact of some of the club’s best players such as captain Albert Rusnák, Damir Kreilach and Aaron Herrera.
Mastroeni breathed life into the Real Salt Lake dressing room. His leadership skills have calmly taken the club to a new sense of faith, but all members of the club, including Mastroeni, are wary of the trial they will face against Portland this weekend.
The Timbers are in their last five Play unbeaten and have won four of the last five games. In addition, they have only conceded three goals in the last five games and are playing with the utmost confidence. Notably, the Timbers haven’t been left out of a game since June 26, when they lost 1-0 at home to Minnesota.
Fortunately, Real Salt Lake is getting healthier. Bobby Wood, Zack Farnsworth and Marcelo Silva are the only players listed as unavailable tomorrow night. Andrew Brody has been struck off the injury list, suggesting a possible return from a broken toe he sustained in July.
For Real Salt Lake to win against Portland, they need to control the game and be careful there the Timbers are trying to capitalize on the counterattack. Real Salt Lake shouldn’t have a problem when it comes to setting the pace and flow of the game, Portland in general isn’t that keen on winning the possession record.
The Timbers want to break and quick on a change of possession have proven to be very elusive and dynamic when they quickly move football from their defensive half to the back of the opposing net.
The quality in Portland’s squad speaks for itself, Dairon Asprilla, Sebastián Blanco, Diego Valeri, Felipe Mora and the brothers Yimmi and Diego Chará are among the most productive offensive players in the league.
Mora leads the team in goals with 10 goals a year through 21 games, on average just under one goal per game. Meanwhile, Marvin Loría leads the team in assists with 5.
Portland are a clinical set-piece team, they are also impressive at getting the ball into wide spaces and into dangerous areas of the box cross. In the last game against LAFC, where they won 2-1, both goals came from crosses, the first being a corner and the second being a cross from the byline.
Real Salt Lake must keep their form stable and defend them in compact form.
The upcoming game against Portland is crucial when it comes to movement in the Western Conference. Right now, Real Salt Lake are in sixth place while Portland is just one point ahead of them in fifth place. A Real Salt Lake win could widen the gap between them and the playoff race, one defeat and they will continue to fight for acceptance of the playoffs.
Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers start at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday September 25th from Providence Park.
The game can be streamed via the KSL Sports & KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.
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