New York City FC vs. Real Salt Lake: Match Preview

Inspired by the format change on our podcast here at nycfcpodcast.com, I’ll be trying out a new look at previewing upcoming New York City FC matches starting this week. While going into as much detail and depth as we always have, I hope the new formatting will make the information more streamlined and easier to digest! We’ll have sections focusing on each team, key match facts, injuries/suspensions, and finally predictions and projections! Please be sure to let myself or Andres know what you think of the new formats, both on the podcast and the blog, at either @Coltons13 or @TheAndresSoto on twitter! With that out of the way, let’s get to breaking down this weeks match-up at Real Salt Lake, henceforth known as the Homecoming Derby.

New York City FC

We begin with our lovely blue team, who come into the match high off their 2-2, 10-man draw against the Chicago Fire last Friday night! For a team that had lost four straight and who remain in the midst of a 9-match winless streak, the confidence boost from Friday’s performance could prove extremely beneficial entering Saturday’s clash. It was a match that saw the true impact a player like David Villa can make, even without scoring, and it saw the continued success of Mehdi Ballouchy, as well as the first career goal of fan-favorite Khiry Shelton. As often as we joke here on the podcast about starting the match with 10-men with our performance last week, New York really will be attempting to capture the same effort and drive they showed, hopefully this time while keeping all 11 men on the pitch. It is somewhat of a homecoming for many members of NYCFC, as six players and five coaches are formerly associated with Real Salt Lake, including head coach Jason Kreis. Sharing that history are Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy, Sebastian Velasquez, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Josh Saunders, and Mehdi Ballouchy. Kreis’ familiarity with Salt Lake could prove to be advantageous as he may have some residual knowledge of the players who remain there from his tenure, as well as knowledge of the teams training methods and tactics. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, however, as Real Salt Lake will also be familiar with Kreis and his own tactics, as well as consistent starters Saunders, Ballouchy, Wingert, and Grabavoy, as well as Velasquez and Watson-Siriboe, who both appear with regularity. When it boils down, however, this match is between two teams who have struggled of late, with Real Salt Lake holding a record of 1-3-2 (W-L-D) in their last six matches and New York sitting at 0-4-2 in the same length of time. With New York coming off a draw, and Real Salt Lake coming off a big 4-1 loss against Montreal, the newly-inspired NYCFC squad will look to end their winless streak and figure to be fiery competitors in going after 3 points.

Real Salt Lake

Following up with this week’s foes, Real Salt Lake comes into the match with a much less inspired feeling. Coming off a win the previous week over the Chicago Fire, Salt Lake was absolutely demolished at Montreal by a final score of 4-1. After starting the season strongly with two wins and three draws in their first five matches, the team has come back to earth, winning just one of their last six and bringing their season totals in goals scored and conceded to a place not far from NYCFC’s. Much like City, Salt Lake awaits news on several injured players, including one of their leading scorers in Javier Morales. Also of note is Real’s struggles on offense. While we New York fans have been frustrated at our teams attack at times, Salt Like remains one of the very few teams who have taken fewer shots and shots on goal than City (99-76 and 49-36), though they’ve converted at a higher rate and sit at 10 goals to City’s 9. With both teams looking to change their offensive woes, we could be in for an aggressive match that sees several opportunities for both sides as they try to return to winning form.

Match Facts

• Through 11 matches, Real Salt Lake has scored one more goal than NYCFC (10-9) but has also conceded one more (15-14)
• Javier Morales leads Salt Lake in both goals (2) and assists (3), his status for Saturday is as of now unknown.
• Salt Lake Keeper Nick Rimando has saved eight of his last 10 penalties in MLS Cup play.
• There has been a red card in the last four NYCFC matches, three of which have been against New York.

Injury/Discipline (O=Out, D=Doubtful, Q=Questionable, P=Probable, U=Unknown)

Real Salt Lake: Schuler (O), Plata (U), Morales (U), Jaime (U), Okwuonu (U)

New York City FC: John (O), Taylor (O), Williams (O), Grabavoy (Q), Calle (U), Watson-Siriboe (U)

Discipline: Suspended- R.J. Allen (NYCFC), Warnings- Watson-Siriboe (NYCFC), Mulholland (RSL)

Predictions/Projections

Projected Formation: 4-4-2

Projected Starting 11: Saunders, Brovsky, Wingert, Hernandez, Facey, Diskerud, Jacobson, Alvarez, Ballouchy, Villa, Mullins

Prediction: New York attempts to ride the momentum wave, but a Real Salt Lake team looking to bounce back at home makes it hard on them, 1-1 draw.

Be sure to follow Andres at @TheAndresSoto and myself @Coltons13 on twitter for everything NYCFC Fan Podcast related and NYCFC related! If you enjoyed this, please check out my own blog, Great Balls of Fire! Let’s go, NYCFC!