Real Salt Lake travels to Orlando City for Sunday’s league opener with a little unexpected baggage, thanks to the team’s performance in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
RSL surpassed many observers’ expectations with a strong performance against Liga MX standouts Tigres at Rio Tinto Stadium, coming tantalizingly close to getting the result Real needed to even up the series. Joao Plata scored the team’s first goal to count in 2016 on a stellar pass from Yura Movsisyan, and RSL created a flurry of scoring opportunities through Plata, Movsisyan, Burrito Martinez, and Javier Morales.
However, Real’s finishing left a lot to be desired. With the players still working their way into full match sharpness, RSL managed to hit a crossbar, have a penalty kick saved, and concede a last-minute equalizer while pressing forward for a second goal. Although Real gained some respect for their tenacity from Tigres and their supporters, they lost the series and were left to reflect on what might have been, all just in time for MLS’ opening weekend.
What does that mean for Sunday’s match?
RSL comes into the match with a two-game head start, so to speak, and fans — not to mention the opposition — have a good idea of what to expect from Jeff Cassar’s side. The starting XI should be virtually the same group that faced Tigres, although Demar Phillips should be available for selection after illness kept him out of Wednesday’s match.
Orlando, on the other hand, will be playing its first competitive match of the season, so predicting how OCSC will perform is a bit more difficult.
Kaka and Cyle Larin are obvious standouts for Orlando, but the likes of Seb Hines and Kevin Molino began to click in preseason as well, and the Lions’ attack could prove a tough test for a somewhat-beleaguered Real defense. Although Orlando signed former AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino somewhat infamously last month, the Italian arrived in the US on Friday and will not be available against RSL.
Going into the MLS season, both teams seem to be more prepared to attack rather than to defend. Each side has amassed a core of attacking players, and have some key similarities defensively. Both Real and OCSC have aggressive-but-aging center backs (and no strangers to disciplinary issues) in Jamison Olave and Aurelien Collin, as well as outside backs that will go forward and provide service from the flanks in Tony Beltran and Brek Shea.
Orlando will have a boisterous and supportive home crowd behind their players, while RSL has a two-game edge in match fitness and sharpness. Will the CCL experience tip the scales for Real, or will the travel and short turnaround time prove to be an incurable hangover from Wednesday night?
We’ll find out on Sunday.
