Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas have the opportunity
to make a statement on Wednesday when the two sides meet at FC Dallas Stadium.
Both teams are coming off of losses but still harbor hopes of postseason glory
as the look of the Western Conference table could shift at the end of the
midweek clash.
Real Salt Lake has lost two on the bounce, but the most recent defeat has left
the Claret and Cobalt reeling. The club fell to the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-1,
at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, but it was the red cards issued to Fabian
Espindola and Jamison Olave that could prove to have a telling impact as the
duo will miss Wednesday's clash through suspension.
With Espindola and Olave proving to be regulars in the Real Salt Lake team, you
would not be off base in suggesting that they would be sorely missed against FC
Dallas. But head coach Jason Kreis stressed that it could be a blessing in
disguise given how many minutes the two stars have logged thus far this season.
"We have a lot of ideas," Kreis told The Salt Lake Tribune. "We're in a good
place now, because a lot of our guys have played lots of minutes. So I don't
think that we're going to have much of an issue there."
FC Dallas will also be without one of its key pieces for Wednesday's match
after the MLS Disciplinary Committee suspended the team's leading scorer, Blas
Perez, on Tuesday for endangering the safety of his opponent. Perez elbowed
Jordan Harvey in the 29th minute of the club's 1-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps
FC on Saturday.
The loss to Vancouver also featured a new face between the pipes. Kevin Hartman
was a late scratch for Dallas after the veteran experienced back spasms in the
pre-game warmup. It is unclear whether second-string 'keeper Chris Seitz, who
made just his second appearance with the club since joining from the
Philadelphia Union last summer, will feature against Real Salt Lake on
Wednesday, but he is likely be prepared for action.
"I felt comfortable going in," Seitz said of his start on Saturday. "Obviously,
you never want to see somebody get injured, but I was definitely ready for the
opportunity."
It was Dallas' third road loss of the season, but the club's 3-0-1 record at FC
Dallas Stadium this season bodes well for Schellas Hyndman's men ahead of the
crucial clash against Real Salt Lake.
"It's disappointing losing on the road, but we have to bounce back," Seitz
said. "We have a game on Wednesday. We just have to get our legs underneath us.
We have to keep on grinding, and if we do all the right things, we are going to
get goals, and we are going to get wins."
The Sports Network