After collecting 16 points in their first seven MLS contests, Real Salt Lake are in a power outage, scoring just one goal in their last 225 minutes of play, while losing their last two matches.
When they host the Portland Timbers on Saturday in Sandy, Utah, Real Salt Lake will try to remedy their sputtering offense.
After struggling through a busy stretch in which it played three matches in a span of eight days, Salt Lake (5-3-1, 16 points) enters with a week of rest and plenty of time to figure out what went wrong.
“As a group, we need to own everything and put our best foot forward to do our best in this next match against Portland,” Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni said.
Zavier Gozo (two goals, four assists), one of two teenagers in the lineup for Real Salt Lake, leads their attacking style. Diego Luna (two goals, three assists) and Sergi Solans (five goals) also have led the offense.
“Gozo, I think, has been a revelation for them. He’s a young kid that we saw last year who’s developing, who’s maturing, who’s becoming one of their most important players,” Portland coach Phil Neville said.
The Timbers (3-5-1, 10 points) are looking for their second straight road win following a 2-1 victory last Saturday at San Diego.
Alex Bonetig scored the first goal of his MLS career six minutes into second-half stoppage time as Portland snapped its string of road league matches without a win, which dated back to August of last year, at 12.
“It was big for the whole organization, winning away from home,” Neville said. ” … Mentally, psychologically, I think it’s important.”
Kristoffer Velde (three goals) paces a balanced attack, which has produced 13 goals from 10 different players.
The Timbers lead the series 16-14-12 all-time. They knocked RSL out of the playoffs last year with a 3-1 wild-card win in Portland as Felipe Mora scored a brace.
“I’m sure they remember that as well, that we sent them home early,” Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis said. “It’s not going to be an easy game. It’s a road game, altitude challenge. We’re looking to build momentum off last week.”
–Field Level Media
