Real Salt Lake will try to end their seven-match winless streak when they host D.C. United on Saturday in Sandy, Utah.
Salt Lake (4-10-3, 15 points) is 0-4-3 with just five goals scored over its last seven matches and stands as one of the lowest-scoring clubs in MLS with only 16 goals in 17 regular-season matches. Only four teams have scored fewer goals.
“While we haven’t been able to score goals, it’s not from a lack of trying, it’s not from a lack of creating really good opportunities,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni told ESPN 700. “It’s just that final piece.”
Mastroeni said forward Diogo Goncalves is expected to return Saturday after a four-match absence, but Salt Lake will be missing two key playmakers to international duty. Leading scorer Diego Luna is off with the United States at the Gold Cup, while forward Dominik Marczuk is playing for Poland at the UEFA U-21 Championship.
D.C. United defender Aaron Herrera is also away at the Gold Cup playing for Guatemala. D.C. United (4-8-6, 18 points) could also again be without its leading scorer in Christian Benteke, who is questionable after missing D.C.’s last five matches with an ankle injury.
Several other players who missed D.C. United’s 7-1 crushing loss to the Chicago Fire last Saturday are expected to be available against Salt Lake. The depleted roster was a chief factor in the rout, which saw D.C. United equal their franchise record for most goals conceded in a match.
“It was an unacceptable performance from us. … As a group, we need to be more organized and proactive, solving problems before they become emergency situations,” D.C. midfielder Brandon Servania said.
D.C. also isn’t scoring much (17 goals), and its 36 goals allowed is tied for the most in MLS this season. The D.C. defense had seemingly been turning a corner in allowing just four goals in its five regular-season matches prior to last Saturday’s meltdown.
RSL is 2-4-1 in home matches this season, and D.C. United is 2-4-2 on the road. Real Salt Lake is 8-1-3 in 12 all-time home matches against D.C.
–Field Level Media
