Seattle Sounders' Clint Dempsey (L) and Obafemi Martins. (Photo : Reuters)
Struggling team Real Salt Lake (7-10-8, 29 points) is scheduled to host rising squad Seattle Sounders (11-12-2, 35 points) in a regular season MLS game on Saturday at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. This would be the first encounter between the two teams this season.
The Royals dropped a close 0-1 decision against the Portland Timbers at home on August 15 with Timbers defender Nat Borchers, a former Real Salt Lake player, scoring a winner during stoppage time, via Oregon Live.
Jeff Cassar's boys had several opportunities to open the scoring, but they were outworked by the visitors.
Meanwhile, the Sounders are coming off a big 4-0 blowout of Orlando City SC on Sunday at their home field of CenturyLink, as reported by SB Nation.
Rave Green welcomed the return of designated player Obafemi Martins after a nine-game absence due to a groin injury. The Nigerian striker scored a double to lead Seattle's rout of the Lions.
The prediction is a convincing 3-1 victory by the Sounders. With Martins back, Seattle's offense instantly became more potent. Sigi Schmid is now only waiting for its other designated player, Clint Dempsey, to come out of his injury so the team can come back to its full strength.
Match Details
Real Salt Lake starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Rimando; Beltran, Olave, Maund, Philips; Beckerman, Mulholland; Silva, Morales, García; Jaime
Seattle Sounders starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Frei; Mears, Torres, Marshall, Fisher; Rose, Evans, Friberg, Neagle; Valdez, Martins
Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Gamecast & Commentary: ESPN FC
TV Info & Live Stream: KMYU Utah, MLS Live, KCPQ-13 FOX, SiriusXM FC, Directv, MLS Direct Kick, LeTV and Boss Football Channel (China) / Liive Stream - MLS Live (US)
