Two clubs in the Western Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas. The first-division clash scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET will be held at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah and can be live streamed here.
Despite losing core players the likes of Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman to World Cup duty, Real Salt Lake enter today's match riding an 11-match unbeaten run to start the season. The club is now just one game short of tying the Los Angeles Galaxy for the longest opening undefeated streak in MLS history. For defender Tony Beltran, the opportunity to set a record is something driving RSL (h/t to Scott Pierce on MLS's official website). "It's good to be unbeaten, but I do not count the games. I didn't know [we were close to tying the record]," Beltran said.
"I think records are great. We want to set records. We want to be the first to do things in this club. We want to be the best," he added.
"That was really cool [setting the league record with a 34-game unbeaten streak] We want to be an elite team. Those kinds of things set you apart. But again, it's not something you're paranoid about, you're worried about, you're over-thinking."
Will Real Salt Lake be focused enough to tie the Galaxy's record when FC Dallas visit Rio Tinto Stadium tonight? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: With Kyle Beckerman away to prepare for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Cole Grossman is projected to make another start in his No. 6 role for Real Salt Lake. In order to maintain the consistent rhythm synonymous with the club's game, the 25-year-old will need to improve on his 78.6 percent pass accuracy.
Real Salt Lake's Projected Lineup (4-1-2-1-2): Attinella; Wingert, Borchers, Schuler, Beltran; Grabavoy, Grossman, Morales, Mulholland; Garcia, Plata
FC Dallas' Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Seitz; Benitez, Hedges, Zimmerman, Lloyd; Ulloa, Moffat; Castillo, Garcia, Watson; Perez
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
New England Revolution |
11 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
20 |
|||
|
2 |
Sporting Kansas City |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
18 |
|||
|
3 |
DC United |
11 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
18 |
|||
|
4 |
Houston Dynamo |
13 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
21 |
-5 |
17 |
|||
|
5 |
New York Red Bulls |
12 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
18 |
19 |
-1 |
14 |
|||
|
6 |
Columbus Crew |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
14 |
-1 |
13 |
|||
|
7 |
Toronto FC |
9 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
13 |
|||
|
8 |
Chicago Fire |
10 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
19 |
19 |
0 |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Philadelphia Union |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
15 |
20 |
-5 |
11 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
10 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
18 |
-10 |
7 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
23 |
19 |
4 |
25 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
11 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
23 |
13 |
10 |
23 |
|||
|
3 |
FC Dallas |
13 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
22 |
22 |
0 |
17 |
|||
|
4 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
10 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
|||
|
5 |
Colorado Rapids |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
12 |
14 |
-2 |
15 |
|||
|
6 |
LA Galaxy |
9 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
12 |
|||
|
7 |
Portland Timbers |
11 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
19 |
-3 |
10 |
|||
|
8 |
Chivas USA |
11 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
-7 |
10 |
|||
|
9 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
10 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
-2 |
10 |
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