This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Home turf wasn't exactly kind to Real Salt Lake the past two months. The team hopes it has not changed its ability this season to score points away from Rio Tinto Stadium.
After gaining just eight points in six home matches in June and July, RSL travels East for the final time this regular season, starting Sunday night against the upstart Philadelphia Union. Three days later, RSL faces injury-riddled Toronto FC on Wednesday night in downtown Toronto.
"It's always great to have games at home, but with the way games have been falling for us recently, it's not the worse thing to go on the road for a couple of games and see if we can come back with a few points," said RSL midfielder Luke Mulholland.
Since its 7-4-2 start through the end of May, RSL (8-6-7, 31 points) has since gone 1-2-5 in its past eight regular-season matches. The once-hot start has allowed RSL to absorb the setbacks of the summer, but the final three months of the season is upon the team, still in fifth place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
Now RSL — which has not won a game in over a month — must rediscover its footing to stay in playoff position.
"No one is happy with our results and dropping points at home, but this group understands that we're playing good soccer," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "We have a lot of players that have been around for a long time, and they understand if we can continue to have performances like we are, things will come around. But that doesn't mean we're not urgent about getting the points that we need."
This next phase of urgency starts Sunday against the Union (8-7-6, 30 points), currently in third place in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is on pace to have its best season since 2013 when the club finished with 46 points but missed the playoffs.
There are several hands in the turnaround, too. Head coach Jim Curtin and sporting director Earnie Stewart have added key pieces all over the field in the last year. Midfielders Roland Alberg, Ilsinho and Chris Pontius have complemented the Union's young core of goalkeeper Andre Blake, defenders Keegan Rosenberry and Josh Yaro as well as forward C.J. Sapong, a 27-year-old who recently returned from injury and was named an MLS All-Star.
"C.J.'s just work rate is really his biggest strength," Cassar said. "He causes a lot of problems. He's not scared to body you up, and when you have forwards that are bodying you and making you work, it makes the defenders make mistakes. They can never take a play off because he's relentless."
Mulholland said in the Union matches he's been able to watch, he's seen a team that fights until the final whistle.
"We know we've got to focus on the whole team and not just one player," he said. "We need to be on our best game so we can come out with three points and go onto Toronto."
RSL's struggling attack faces a stiff test on the road trip. Leading scorer Yura Movsisyan (hip flexor strain) is out for the match against Philadelphia and is being called "extremely questionable" for Toronto by Cassar. Midfielder Jordan Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday.
After a long, roasting week of training, Mulholland is sticking by his prediction that RSL can get as much as four points out of this road trip.
"Come Sunday," he said, "we should be raring to go."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union
At Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
Kickoff » Sunday, 5 p.m.
TV » KMYU
Radio » 700 AM
Records » RSL 8-6-7, Philadelphia 8-7-6
Last meeting » RSL 3, Philadelphia 3 (March 14, 2015 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL » RSL's last win was over a month ago on June 22 against the New York Red Bulls. … RSL has scored seven goals in its past eight matches. … Forward Yura Movsisyan (hip flexor) is out for Sunday's match and also is doubtful for Wednesday at Toronto FC. … Midfielder Jordan Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday. … Captain Kyle Beckerman is coming off his start in Thursday's MLS All-Star match against Arsenal Thursday in San Jose, Calif. … Goalkeeper Nick Rimando was one of four MLS players named as an inactive All-Star in 2016, his seventh-straight All-Star appearance.
About Philadelphia » Goalkeeper Andre Blake and rookie defender Keegan Rosenberry represented the Union at the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal. … Midfielder Chris Pontius leads the team in goals in 2016 with eight. … Forward Sebastien Le Toux leads the team in assists with five. … Newcomer Roland Alberg has produced six goals in 17 matches this year. … The Union have never beat RSL and are 0-2-6 all-time against the club. … Philadelphia is 0-3-3 against the Western Conference in 2016.