Toronto FC take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium (GOL TV Canada, 9 p.m. ET). RSL played to a third consecutive draw on Wednesday, a scoreless tie at the Chicago Fire. Toronto FC are now winless in eight league games, coming off a late 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC at home last weekend.
RELATED: Broadcast Info
RELATED: RSL-TFC Game Guide
TORONTO FC
[inline_node:7098]Toronto FC were seconds away from a fourth consecutive draw before Seattle Sounders FC hit for a late winner in a 1-0 win Saturday at BMO Field. TFC has 15 points from 17 games on the season, sitting in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The team travels to Utah without the services of several regulars.
LAST MATCH
• Sounders FC went down a man in the 49th minute when Jhon Kennedy Hurtado received his second yellow card of the match for a foul on Alen Stevanovic.
• But in the 90th minute, Seattle won a free kick just outside the area on the right, and Fredy Montero lashed it over the wall and inside Stefan Frei's left post for the match-winner.
• TFC head coach Aron Winter made one change to the team that played to a scoreless draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Alen Stevanovic came back into the team in place of Alan Gordon.
• TORONTO FC--Stefan Frei - Richard Eckersley, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Danleigh Borman - Nathan Sturgis (Oscar Cordon 46) - Alen Stevanovic (Javier Martina 71), Mikael Yourassowsky (Dan Gargan 91+) - Nick Soolsma, Maicon Santos, Joao Plata.
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake had their winless run extended to four games, playing to a scoreless draw with the Chicago Fire on Wednesday evening at Toyota Park. RSL sits in fourth place in the Western Conference, with 23 points from 14 matches.
LAST MATCH
• RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando made four saves on the evening, most of the tougher chances coming after the halftime break.
• Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson was called upon to make two saves.
• RSL coach Jason Kreis made three changes to the side that ended in a 1-1 draw with D.C. United at Rio Tinto Stadium. Robbie Russell came in for Chris Wingert in the back, Will Johnson started in midfield for Andy Williams, and Artur Aghasyan replaced the suspended Jean Alexandre up top.
• REAL SALT LAKE (4-3-1-2): Nick Rimando - Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran - Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Beckerman, Will Johnson - Collen Warner (Nelson Gonzalez 84) - Artur Aghasyan (Andy Williams 69), Fabian Espindola (Luis Gil 7).
REFEREE: Niko Bratsis. SAR (bench): Craig Lowry; JAR (opposite): Peter Manikowski; 4th: Ricardo Salazar
Bratsis MLS Career: 3 games; Fouls called/game: 25.0; Yellow/game: 3.0; Red cards: 0; Penalties: 0
INJURY REPORT:
REAL SALT LAKE – OUT: MF Javier Morales (L ankle fracture dislocation); DOUBTFUL: FW Arturo Alvarez (R hamstring strain), FW Fabian Espíndola (L hamstring strain), DF Chris Wingert (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: FW Paulo Jr. (L hamstring strain), FW Álvaro Saborío (R knee swelling); PROBABLE: DF Robbie Russell (R shoulder impingement) … TORONTO FC – OUT: MF Elbekay Bouchiba (R knee surgery recovery); DF Adrian Cann (R knee sprain); DF Dicoy Williams (R knee sprain); DF Nana Attakora (R quadriceps strain); MF Jacob Peterson (L hamstring strain); FW Alan Gordon (abdominal strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Julian DeGuzman (L calf strain); MF Tony Tchani (L ankle contusion); MF Nathan Sturgis (L hamstring tightness)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: RSL: Will Johnson, Robbie Russell, Chris Wingert … TOR: Danleigh Borman, Richard Eckersley, Dan Gargan, Javier Martina, Tony Tchani, Mikael Yourassowsky
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (8 meetings): Real 3 wins, 8 goals … Toronto FC 3 wins, 6 goals … Ties 2
AT SALT LAKE (4 meetings): Real 3 wins, 8 goals … Toronto FC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0
RETURN MATCH: August 13 - Toronto v. Salt Lake at 7 p.m. ET on GOL TV Canada.
LAST YEAR
May 1, 2010: Salt Lake 2-1 Toronto (Olave 14; Williams 42 – De Rosario 88)
August 28, 2010: Toronto 0-0 Salt Lake
• Salt Lake has yet to win at BMO Field. Toronto FC has won twice on their home ground in the series; the teams have also played to two scoreless draws in Ontario.
• After Toronto FC won in the first meeting ever between the clubs, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake has won their last three home games.
• Coaches record: Jason Kreis v TOR: P8 W3 L3 D2 … Aron Winter vs. RSL: first game
