After claiming its third straight draw on the road against Toronto FC, Columbus Crew SC returns back home Saturday for a clash with Real Salt Lake. Ahead of the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at MAPFRE Stadium, here are three things to know about RSL.
Beckerman out on international duty
Real Salt Lake captain and midfielder Kyle Beckerman will not be in the lineup for Saturday’s match against Crew SC. The veteran was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team 23-man roster for this summer’s Copa America Centenario and will not be available due to international duty.
Rough recent results
After a strong start to the 2016 season with 14 points from their first six matches (4-0-2), the Claret-and-Cobalt have lost three of their last five matches, all on the road. During this stretch, Real Salt Lake also went goalless for 231 straight minutes before a 32nd minute strike by Juan Manuel Martinez in RSL’s 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps last week.
History against Black & Gold
Real Salt Lake has struggled against Crew SC in recent years, especially on the road in Columbus. In 18 matches overall, the Black & Gold hold a 10-5-3 advantage against the Claret-and-Cobalt, including a 7-1-1 record at MAPFRE Stadium. The last match between the two sides came at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 27, 2015, ending in a 2-2 draw.
