This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's a trend impossible to ignore, one Real Salt Lake players and coaches prep to discuss each week they set out on the road to face an opponent whose home field is an artificial surface.
They know what questions are likely on the way because RSL has struggled mightily on turf for quite some time.
The latest test is Saturday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., where the New England Revolution hosts RSL, which is riding a three-game skid in which it has been outscored 9-1.
RSL wants nothing more than to kick this funk, to find a way to tighten up the slew of mistakes being made and pelt a couple goals into the back of the net, surprise the Revs at home and board the flight home all smiles Sunday.
History, however, is not on RSL's side.
RSL is 0-12-5 in its past 17 road matches on artificial turf, while conceding 37 goals during this stretch. The last win came in the second leg of the 2013 Western Conference final in Portland. That's a three-and-a-half-year winless streak RSL's riding playing on artificial surfaces. The last result RSL managed on turf was the third match of the season a year ago, a 2-2 draw, again in Portland.
Life on the fake stuff is rough for any team, but it has been especially unkind to RSL.
"Everything is difficult," forward Yura Movsisyan said. "Simply everything."
Why exactly? It's unnatural, the ball can take on a mind of its own, and as Movsisyan continued, "everything is weird and different."
There are six MLS stadiums that still utilize turf: Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, New England as well as both 2017 expansion franchises Atlanta United and Minnesota United. RSL's inaugural trip to Minnesota in April resulted in a 4-2 loss. So Saturday at Gillette Stadium provides RSL another opportunity to reverse this ugly ongoing trend.
On the flip side, Mike Petke isn't buying any excuses. The RSL coach said players in MLS — whether it be right or wrong — likely have become conditioned from a young age to loath playing on artificial surfaces.
"To me it's all mental, and I don't accept that players can't play on turf or are not willing to play on turf," he said. "That to me doesn't make sense. Got to just get that out of their head."
To make matters more interesting this weekend, Gillette Stadium recently installed a new turf field. The maiden MLS match at the home of the Revs and New England Patriots will feature RSL. The new surface is the same as inside CenturyLink Field in Seattle and Providence Park in Portland, widely regarded among MLS players as the two most-adaptable turf fields in the league.
The last time RSL christened a new turf field was a 2-1 loss in Vancouver in May 2015. Most memorably, it left the blue cleats of RSL defender Justen Glad stained a greenish-gray color afterward.
RSL defender Chris Wingert said at 34, the biggest difference playing on turf is how your body feels afterward. Wingert said with New England's new turf might level out the playing field somewhat because both sides will have to get used to it during the game.
But with RSL riding this three-game losing streak and now down even more players due to the U.S. U-20 World Cup calls, the task in suburban Boston has been made more difficult — on turf.
"That's the least of our concerns right now," Wingert said. "It just is what it is."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at New England Revolution
P At Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Kickoff • 5:30 p.m.
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 2-6-2, New England 2-4-4
Last meeting • 0-0 draw (July 16, 2016 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL • Will be without Brooks Lennon, Sebastian Saucedo, Danny Acosta and Justen Glad, all of which were called up to the U.S. U-20 World Cup roster. … RSL will be without Nick Rimando (hamstring), Tony Beltran (calf), Jordan Allen (quad), David Horst (knee), Chad Barrett (knee). … Kyle Beckerman (calf) is questionable. … Midfielder Albert Rusnák did not train the two days in Utah after picking up a knock in the 3-0 loss to FC Dallas.
About New England • Forward Juan Agudelo leads the Revs in goals scored with six in 2017. … Midfielder Lee Nguyen has four goals and two assists so far. … Forward Kei Kamara has missed the last two matches while he and his wife are expecting the birth of their child. … Midfielder Gershon Koffie recently returned to the club on loan from Swedish club Hammarby IF. … The Revolution are 0-2-3 in their last five matches.