Real Salt Lake

First Touches | #MINvRSL

First Touches | #MINvRSL

MATCHUP QUICK FACTS

  • MNUFC lost its season opener to Seattle Sounders FC 4-0 last week.
  • It has been 552 days since Allianz Field last hosted a game with fans in the stands — a Round One playoff loss to the LA Galaxy on October 20, 2019.
  • With Osvaldo Alonso on the bench to start the game, Michael Boxall took up the captain’s armband. He passed it to Alonso when he came on in the 79th minute.
  • The season opener saw Minnesota debuts for midfielder Wil Trapp in the starting XI and forward Ramón Ábila and rookie midfielder Justin McMaster, who came off the bench for their first MLS and MNUFC minutes.
  • Real Salt Lake was the only team to have a bye in the season’s opening week as the Vancouver Whitecaps opened their season against Portland Timbers at Rio Tinto Stadium with a 1-0 win.
  • Minnesota and Real Salt Lake’s last meeting was a 0-0 draw on September 27, 2020, at Allianz Field.
  • Minnesota has not lost to Real Salt Lake since June 17, 2017, a 1-0 defeat in the final minutes at Rio Tinto Stadium
  • The Loons claimed their first-ever MLS win against RSL with a 4-2 result on April 1, 2017.
  • Ethan Finlay has three goals and an assist in his career against RSL.


MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS

  • Real Salt Lake Head Coach Freddy Juarez played for the Minnesota Thunder from 2004–2007, including two years under current MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee.
  • Wil Trapp, Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram played together on the Columbus Crew from 2013–2017, including a trip to the 2015 MLS Cup Final. Jukka Raitala and Niko Hansen were also on the Crew’s roster in 2017.
  • Jan Gregus is teammates with Albert Rusnak on the Slovakia National Team.
  • Chase Gasper, Dayne St. Clair and Zac MacMath played collegiate ball with the Maryland Terrapins.
  • Goalkeeper David Ochoa and midfielder Hassani Dotson played for the U23 U.S. Men’s National Team in March during Olympic qualifying.
  • Dayne St. Clair received his first call-up to the Canada Men’s National Team this past January, a team of which Real Salt Lake defender Ashtone Morgan is also a member.