RSL Hosts Houston Thursday with Top Spot in West on the Line
Real Salt Lake (5-6-4, 19 pts.) will look to start the fireworks early this Independence Day weekend both on and off the field, as the Utah side will welcome the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo (4-4-7, 19 pts.) to the Wasatch Front for a pivotal showdown in the Western Conference standings this Thursday, July 3. Kick-off for the contest at Rice-Eccles Stadium - which will be featured as ESPN2's Primetime Thursday game of the week - is set for 8:00 p.m. MT, with a post-game fireworks extravaganza to follow. In addition to the ESPN2 nationwide telecast, fans can also follow the action as it unfolds on RSL's official radio partners - KALL 700 Sports (RSL First Kick pre-game coverage begins at 7:00 p.m.) and Ke Buena AM-1600.
Gates at Rice-Eccles will open at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, giving fans an extra hour to take advantage of the popular Carnival Real pre-game festival. Tickets are still available for Thursday's game and fireworks event and can be purchased by calling the RSL offices at 801-924-8585, in person at the RSL office at 515 S. 700 East, Suite #2R (Trolley Corners building) in downtown Salt Lake City, or online by visiting www.RealSaltLake.com.
Both Real Salt Lake and Houston will look to break their second-place stalemate in the West standings, and a three-point result will push the victor into sole possession of first-place ahead of current leader LA Galaxy (6-5-3, 21 pts.), who will take on the New England Revolution one day later. Salt Lake trails Houston in the all-time series 2-4-1, but RSL carries a 2-1-1 home mark against the Dynamo into Thursday's showdown, which will mark the first of two meetings between the squads this season (return match in Houston is set for Aug. 16).
RSL Reserves Head North Tonight to Face Ogden Outlaws
Real Salt Lake invites fans to start off their July 4th holiday with a bang, as the Real Salt Lake Reserves (2-1-1, 7 pts.) will return to action for the first time in a month on Friday morning against the division-leading Houston Dynamo Reserves (4-0-1, 13 pts.). The early morning kick-off at the Quinn's Junction sports complex in Park City is set for 8:30 a.m. MT. As is the case with all RSL Reserve contests, admittance is free and open to the public.
XanGo Cup 2008 to Feature RSL v. Club Santos Laguna Next Wednesday
Continuing its tradition of bringing world-class international competition to the State of Utah, Real Salt Lake again partners with XanGo for the third consecutive year to present XanGo Cup 2008. This summer's international festivities commence with 2008 Mexican Clausura titlist Santos Laguna next Wednesday, July 9, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with an 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff. XanGo Cup 2008 tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at all UTIX outlets, by phone at (801) 581-UTIX, and online at www.utahtickets.com. Tickets for the contest are $30 (Corner/Goal), $45 (Premium) and $60 (VIP), with a $5 discount in each seating area applicable to each ticket bought as part of a group of 20 or more.
RSL to Welcome Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa for Annual Pioneer Day Event
Real Salt Lake announced that the Utah side will continue its 2008 slate of international exhibitions on Wednesday, July 23, when RSL will play host to Central America's most successful side, Costa Rican powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa. Kick-off at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the annual Pioneer Day event, which will be followed by the traditional post-game fireworks extravaganza, is set for 8:00 p.m. MT. Tickets for the match are now on sale to the public and can be purchased at all UTIX outlets, by phone at (801) 581-UTIX, and online at www.utahtickets.com. Tickets for the contest reflect 2008 RSL regular-season pricing of $17 (North Goal), $19 (Corner Flag), $28 (Premium) and $40 (VIP), with $16 KFC "Colonel's Corner" vouchers available at 35 KFC locations across the Wasatch Front. 2008 Royal Club members should use Bonus Ticket C in their season ticket packages for the match.
Saprissa is one of the most successful clubs in North America, having won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup three times - in 1993, 1995, and 2005 - while also owning the most final appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup thanks to four additional runners-up finishes. They have also won five Central American crowns in 1972, 1973, 1978, 1998, and 2003, as well as 27 Primera División de Costa Rica championships, by far the most of any team. Arguably their most notable moment came in 2005, as they became the first, and so far only, non-Mexican club in CONCACAF to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, finishing in third place. The club's success has led to the Costa Rican press nicknaming the team El Monstruo Morado ("The Purple Monster"), a reference to their purple-colored playing kit.
KALL 700 Sports RSL Coach's Corner Returns this Evening with Chris Seitz & XanGo Cup Preview
The KALL 700 Sports RSL Coach's Corner will return to its normal Tuesday evening slot tonight, when host Bill Riley will be joined in the KALL 700 Sports studios by RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis and GK Chris Seitz from 6:00-7:00 p.m. MT. In addition to looking ahead to Thursday's showdown against the Houston Dynamo, Riley will welcome XanGo co-Founder Gordon Morton, who will take time to talk about next week's big XanGo Cup 2008 contest against Mexican champs Club Santos Laguna at Rice-Eccles Stadium. As always, RSL fans far and wide are invited to participate in the show by dialing in to the KALL 700 Sports caller hotlines at 470-0700 (Utah County), 570-0700 (Salt Lake County), 670-0700 (Davis & Weber Counties), and 877-353-0700 (toll-free). If you're not in range of the 50,000-watt powerhouse that is KALL 700 Sports, no worries... RSL fans worldwide can visit www.kall700sports.com and click on the "LISTEN LIVE" link to catch the show.
MLS Decision 2008: MLS All-Star Voting Ends Tomorrow!
Real Salt Lake fans, only two days remain to vote your favorite players from Utah's side onto the 2008 MLS All-Star team, as online voting for the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game officially ends tomorrow, Wednesday, July 2. To make sure your voice is heard visit www.mlsnet.com, where fans can fill out their ballots up to 10 times a day by selecting one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. The online fan balloting program will comprise 25 percent of the total vote for the All-Star First XI, with coaches and general managers, players, and media each holding 25 percent of the vote to combine for the remaining 75 percent. The MLS All-Star First XI will be announced next Thursday, July 10, and the All-Star Reserves and Commissioner's Selections will be announced on Tuesday, July 15.
Real Sports This Week: Knick-Knacks Attack as this Week's "Item of the Game"
Real Salt Lake fans can truly stand out in a crowd with this week's "Items of the Game," as Real Sports and the RSL Merchandise Department are offering a $10 bundle featuring two RSL Flashing Hairbands and an RSL Yo-Yo at Thursday's contest against Houston at Rice-Eccles Stadium. To take advantage of the Item of the Game special, or to purchase the latest in RSL gear and merchandise - including a limited-edition XanGo Cup 2008 T-Shirt ($15), pennants ($10), magnets ($5) and license plate frames ($4) - fans can drop by either the Real Sports location at Valley Fair Mall (3601 S. 2700 West) in West Valley City, or the RSL Merchandise Office at the Trolley Corners Building (515 S. 700 East, Suite 2B-1). For any and all questions regarding RSL gear and products, please call the RSL Merchandise Office at 801-924-8572.
RSL and Bargain Banners Contest at Thursday's Game Offers Free Gas for Three Years!
Real Salt Lake fans can sign-up at Thursday's contest against the Houston Dynamo for a chance to win FREE GAS for three years and have their vehicle wrapped by Real Salt Lake and BargainAutoWraps.Com. Also, those who put down a $350 refundable deposit to have your vehicle wrapped at the game on Thursday will receive a $100 discount and a pair of Real Salt Lake tickets to an upcoming contest. To take advantage, fans can sign up at the Bargain Banners booth in Carnival Real, which will be open from 6:00 p.m. through the 8:00 p.m. kick-off. Must be present to win.
RSL Rewind: Late Own Goal Dooms RSL to 1-0 Defeat in Kansas City
Real Salt Lake saw its franchise-record tying five-game undefeated streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion last Saturday night, as an 89th minute own goal marked the only scoring in a 1-0 defeat at the Kansas City Wizards in front of 10,385 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Just a week after Real Salt Lake benefitted from an own goal in a victory over New England, the Utah side would be victimized by a similar play a week later, with a free kick sent into the penalty area by Kansas City MF Davy Arnaud deflecting off the head of RSL DF Tony Beltran as he battled Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad for the ball inside the six-yard box.
