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Major League Soccer | Gameweek 25
Aug 15, 2021 at 3am UK
Rio Tinto Stadium
AF

Salt Lake
1 - 0
Austin

Wood (32')
Morgan (68')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ring (44')
Cascante (49')

Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Austin FC - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Austin FC - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and Austin FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Real Salt Lake are hoping to climb back into a playoff position in the Western Conference when they host Austin FC on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Salt Lake are winless in their previous three fixtures, losing their last two, while the Verde-and-Black conceded two second-half goals to fall 2-0 to Dallas.


Match preview

Having reached the midway point of the year, Real Salt Lake have grown tremendously from their previous season, but they are still on the outside in terms of the playoff picture in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Except for a couple of off games, Freddy Juarez has seen his side fight hard, showing a real commitment and purpose, but lately, they do not have much to show for it.

They have failed to score in two of their last three matches, in games that were there for the taking, so the key for them moving into the second half of the season will be, as Juarez put it, developing that one percent so that these tight matches for them result in three points, rather than one or none.

Claret and Cobalt have some explosive individual talent in attack with the likes of Rubio Rubin and Damir Kreilach, but they have yet to find a way to use all of their individual talent into a system that can enable the whole team to succeed.

Salt Lake have done most of their damage at home lately, scoring nine goals in their last five matches played in Sandy, Utah.

Only two points currently separate them from Los Angeles FC for that final playoff spot, but as close as they are to returning to the playoffs, a couple of slip-up could drop them to the bottom of the conference in a hurry, with only five points separating them from the last-place Vancouver Whitecaps.

A lack of finish in the final third has cost Austin all season long, and that was the case again last weekend as they lost to their Texas rivals.

This expansion side are winless in their last seven road fixtures and have been held scoreless in 11 games this year, with six of those shutout losses coming away from home.

Josh Wolff will hope that their new acquisitions can add some offensive punch to this side, who have done a terrific job of maintaining possession, but are still lacking that consistent attacking threat who can finish off their great build-up.

If they want to contend for a playoff spot in their inaugural campaign, they have to find some consistency in their results, as winning one out of every five or six games that you play will not cut it.

Austin have been very competitive and held their own in most of their matches, but they have only shown flashes of offensive brilliance so far in 2021.

The rest of this month could be make or break for this team, with three of their next four games at home while facing four teams who are either even with them on points or just slightly ahead of them out west.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L



Team News

Zac MacMath has started the last three fixtures in goal for Salt Lake in relief of David Ochoa, who has an undisclosed injury, while Zack Farnsworth and Andrew Brody remain on the sidelines with unknown injuries as well.

Defender Toni Datkovic made his first MLS start after coming over from Aris Thessaloniki in Greece and Rubio Rubin made his first appearance at Providence Park last weekend in his native Oregon, where he grew up.

Albert Rusnak scored his first goal for Claret and Cobalt since mid-July, and defender Justen Glad will not be available after receiving a fifth yellow card on Saturday.

Sebastian Driussi made his debut for Austin last weekend against Dallas, entering as a substitute just past the hour mark, while Wolff made several changes to the starting lineup, inserting Jhohan Romana, Aedan Stanley, Manny Perez and Daniel Pereira into the team.

Aaron Schoenfeld and Ulises Segura remain out with left knee injuries, Ben Sweat has an ACL issue, Danny Hoesen is suffering from a left hip problem and McKinze Gaines has a left abductor strain.

Senegalese striker Moussa Djitte arrived in Austin earlier this week and has been training in isolation as per MLS quarantine protocols, and Tomas Pochettino is hoping to return to form after earning Player of the Week honours following his brace against the Houston Dynamo in their previous match.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Toia, Datkovic, Silva, Herrera; Rusnak, N. Besler, Ruiz, Julio; Kreilach, Rubin

Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Stanley, M. Besler, Cascante, Lima, Kolmanic; Pochettino, Ring, Berhalter; Dominguez, Driussi


We say: Real Salt Lake 2-0 Austin FC

Salt Lake have been very convincing at home lately, scoring five goals in their last two games while creating plenty of scoring opportunities.

Austin made a point to add some offensive punch to their side before the transfer window closed, but while they may have gotten some upgrades on paper, it will take some time for the newcomers like Driussi to learn the Austin system.


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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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