Real Salt Lake seeks defensive improvement vs. Red Bulls (Mar 16, 2018)
Just two games into the season, Real Salt Lake is already scrambling to keep things from spiraling out of control on defense.
Real Salt Lake is still stinging from a 5-1 loss to Los Angeles FC last weekend that mirrored some of the turbulent moments that the club endured in early matches a season ago.
The loss to Los Angeles exposed some serious flaws ahead of Saturday's match against the New York Red Bulls.
How bad was it?
Salt Lake conceded five goals in a match at Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time in club history. It also marked the first time that goalkeeper Nick Rimando and the RSL backline allowed more than three goals in 160 regular-season home starts.
Salt Lake coach Mike Petke did not pulled punches in expressing his disgust over how the game unfolded.
"A lot of places in the world, I'd either be fired right now, or I would resign," Petke told reporters after the loss. "A lot of places in the world. It's embarrassing. And it starts from the top. I apologize to the fans who came out here for this."
New York enters the match with the positive momentum RSL is seeking.
The Red Bulls opened their MLS season in style, dispatching the Portland Timbers 4-0 last Saturday. Carlos Rivas, who came to New York from Orlando City in the offseason, netted two goals late in the match for his first career MLS game with multiple goals.
The Red Bulls also got offensive production from talented youngster Ben Mines. In his MLS debut, Mines chipped in his first career goal. He became the fifth-youngest player to score in his first career MLS game and the third-youngest to score in club history.
"For a 17-year-old in a man's world, he's fit right in," New York coach Jesse Marsch told the official team website. "He's not intimidated. He's ready for this challenge. He's excited."
New York is seeking its first ever regular season win in Utah. Salt Lake has dominated the series on its home turf, posting five wins and five draws in 10 regular season matches.
