It’s Matchday 17, and New York City FC are in the foothills of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains to face Real Salt Lake. Here’s your NYCFC vs RSL game preview and Game Day Hub.
RELATED: Oppo Research: 5 things about Real Salt Lake
Game Day Essentials
- Matchday 17: NYCFC vs Real Salt Lake
- Date and Time: Saturday, June 10, 9:30 pm ET
- Kickoff Time: 9:39 pm ET
- Venue: America First Field
- Bruce Arena Forecast: Cloudy, breezy, slightest chance of a sprinkle, 74˚F/23˚C
- Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Listen: English and Spanish broadcasts on NYCFC Radio
- Officiating Crew: Fotis Bazakos (referee), Brian Dunn and Kali Smith (assistant referees), Elvis Osmanovic (fourth official), Jair Marrufo (VAR), Tyler Wyrostek (assistant VAR)
NYCFC vs Real Salt Lake preview
This is a game between two of the biggest underachievers in MLS. New York City currently sit in 16th place in the Eastern Conference, with 17 points after 16 games. Real Salt Lake are in ninth place in the Western Conference, with 19 points after 16 games.
NYCFC staggered through the first half he season with a partially-rebuilt squad that’s a goal-scorer or two away from contending for the playoffs. And they could maybe use a midfielder. And a central defender.
RSL also don’t have much of a scoring threat, but they just addressed that by reportedly signing Chicho Arango — the former LAFC dangerman spent the last six months playing for Pachuca in Liga MX. Good thing for NYCFC that he can’t join Real until after the summer transfer window opens on July 5.
NYCFC vs Real Salt Lake H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
These two clubs haven’t met many times. Real Salt Lake’s domination of the head-to-head is due in large part to the early years: They won the games played 2015, 2016, and 2017. NYCFC addressed the historical record last year, when they dismantled RSL at Yankee Soccer Stadium 6-0. Taty Castellanos scored four goals that afternoon. Good times.
We’ll note that games between these two clubs tend to be high-scoring affairs: 6-0, 3-1, 4-0, 2-1, 2-3, 2-0. Our calculator tells is that comes out to 24 goals in six games, or four goals per games. We’ll see what the soccer gods have in store for us this time.
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NYCFC
- Player Availability: Defender Thiago Martins is out 6-8 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Defender Maxime Chanot is suspended for one game because of yellow card accumulation. Defender Tayvon Gray is available after MLS reinstated him following an investigation into his alleged use of abusive language, and defender Braian Cufré is available after the red card shown to him in last week’s New England Revolution game was overturned.
- Expect Tony Alfaro to get the start with both Maxime Chanot Thiago Martins ruled out.
- The question we ask every week: Where will NYCFC find goals? New York City were held scoreless last week by
New EnglandDjordje Petrović, whose five saves earned him Player of the Match honors.
RELATED: Tayvon Gray reinstated following MLS investigation
RELATED: Braian Cufré red card overturned
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Real Salt Lake
- Player Availability: RSL will be without goalkeeper Zac MacMath and center-back Eric Holt.
- Where will Real find goals? Rubio Rubín scored two against Austin on the road, but that feels more like a fluke than a return to form. Jefferson Savarino is the team’s best player and leading scorer, although he only has four goals this year.
- Fun fact via NYCFC announcer Glenn Crooks: Real haven’t logged two consecutive wins in over one year, and RSL beat Austin on the road last week.
- Looking for more insider information on Real? Check out Oppo Research: 5 things about Real Salt Lake.
Projected Real Salt Lake Starting XI:
