If there is something strikers love it is being the center of attention. The position requires a certain level of ego and vanity. After all, it is the position where most goals come from. But when a striker’s former team meets their current team in a match -watch out! On Saturday, Alvaro Saborio will get the chance to be the center of attention as his current team, D.C. United, hosts his former team, Real Salt Lake at RFK Stadium (Saturday 7pm EST Comcast SportsNET,KMYU).
There is good reason for Saborio getting the lion’s share of attention entering into this match and that is because he was Real Salt Lake for a time. The team’s all-time leading goal-scorer, Saborio led the club to their first and only MLS Cup back in 2010. But with RSL making a shift to a much younger lineup, the 33 year old was traded to D.C. United two weeks ago for midfielder-forward Luis Silva. Silva, who was expected to vie for a starting spot at Rio Tinto, is doubtful for this match with a groin injury.
D.C. United’s Fabian Espindola lines up for a shot in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union (photo credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography)
RSL fans might have a bit of a flashback on Saturday when they see Saborio link up with his old line-mate Fabian Espindola. In United’s 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union, the two picked up from where they left off, linking up for several promising possessions early in the match. Just Saborio’s presence alone has helped Espindola out. Espindola’s game-winning goal on Sunday was a direct result of the Union defense focusing their complete attention on Saborio. With space to create Espindola was able to move with minimal interference and bury home the winner. RSL left-back Tony Beltran will be very familiar with the interplay of the two, having played with both of them himself, and will use that experience to disrupt the United attack.
What will be interesting to see from a D.C. perspective is if midfielder Nick De Leon can produce a second consecutive quality match. He has not had a bad 2015 campaign, helping set up scoring opportunities and breaking defenses on the right flank. But his goal totals have slipped in recent years. Sunday’s goal was his first in over a year, a poor number for someone that operates as an attacking midfielder. Sunday’s goal appeared to boost his confidence on the attacking. With RSL likely to be without Nick Rimando (knee,) and defenders Chris Schuler (knee,) Jamison Olave (quad,) Demar Phillips (groin) he might have additional scoring opportunities.
Not everything is bad for Real Salt Lake. Despite losing Rimando to an All-Star Game the club will welcome defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman. Beckerman, coming off of a disastrous Gold Cup run with the United States Men’s National Team. should help a defense that is riding a two game winning streak.
Aside from his defending Beckerman is an integral cog to coach Jeff Cassar’s attack, serving as the link between the defense and right midfielder Javier Morales (5 goals). Long gone are the days of RSL’s diamond formation and their long stretches of possession. Although Beckerman and Morales are still the linchpin to their attack forwards Joao Plata and Sebastian Jaime (4 goals) have taken on a more important role this season. Look for Jaime to take a page out of Union forward C.J. Sapong’s book by hammering the United defense within the first fifteen minutes of the match.
The real question for United in this match is if they can build off of last week’s result and continue to score in buckets. Against an RSL side that has never won at RFK Stadium and is without their starting goalkeeper and two starting defenders they will certainly have their opportunities. The key will be if Saborio and Espindola can turn back the clock and find that winning formula.
