http://i.imgur.com/e9BdnP6.png
Toronto FC Starting Lineup:
---------------Julio Cesar---------------
------------Henry---Cadwell©----------
-----Orr-------------------Morrow----
-------Hall---------Bradley--------
-----Rey---------------------Bloom----
---------Defoe---------Gilberto----------
Bench: Bendik, Hagglund, Morgan, Bekker, De Rosario, Nakajima-Farran, Wiedeman
DC United Starting Lineup:
---------------Rimando---------------
----------Schuler---Borchers----------
-----Beltran-------------------Wingert----
---------------Beckerman©---------------
-----Gil------------------Grabavoy----
---------------Morales---------------
---------Saborio---------Garcia----------
Bench: Attinella, Salcedo, Balchan, Grossman, Mulholland, Stertzer, Sandoval
Head to Head Info:
The two teams played once last season, Real Salt Lake took the game by a score of 1-0 at BMO Field, Yordany Álvarez being the lone scorer in that game.
Ever since a 2-1 victory for TFC in Utah, RSL took the next 5 games against TFC in Utah by the scores of 3–2 (2012), 3-1 (2011), 2-1 (2010), 3-0 (2009), 2-1 (2008).
Ryan Nelsen, the ex-Blackburn/Spurs/QPR defender and current TFC coach, dropped 3 points against RSL last year in his only head to head matchup with that team while Jeff Cassar has entered only his 3rd game as a manager ever.
Notes:
Toronto FC:
Jermaine Defoe, who is tied for the most amount of goals this season with Houston Dynamo FWD Will Bruin, scored his 3rd goal last Saturday against DC United. It was the only goal of the game, and it came off a rebound after Gilberto tried to sneak a shot past the DC keeper after a nice through ball from Michael Bradley
Julio Cesar picked up his first MLS shutout in a rather easy fashion, he only had 2 shots that needed a save from
Last week's win was the first time in franchise history for TFC to win the first two games of the season in a row. In those two games, the squads were almost the exact same - except for Jackson who replaced Dwayne De Rosario after the first game of the season
Brazilian RM Jackson will face a suspension of one game for "aggressive inflammatory behaviour" after elbowing D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud off the ball at the 50 minute mark
Real Salt Lake:
Like Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake started their campaign undefeated winning once and drawing their last two. Ex-TFC FWD Joao Plata found Alvaro Saborio off of a freekick, who slotted it home to give RSL the early 1-0 lead just outside the 20 minute mark. LA Galaxy would respond though in the 35th minute as ex-Spurs and Irish legend Robbie Kean cut inside a RSL defender before striking the ball to the near post. The scoring would end there at 1-1 as they continue their home-opening winning streak, extending it to 10 straight years giving RSL a 4-0-6 all-time record at home openers.
Ecuadorian FWD Joao Plata, the man who set up RSL's goal vs. LA Galaxy, was subbed off after the 30 minute mark with an apparent hamstring injury, leading him to miss at least 3 weeks. He has 2 goals and 2 assists this season so far for RSL, and is currently the only player in the MLS to be in the top 5 in scoring and assists.
A pleasant sight for RSL fans however is the fact that Argentina MID Javier Morales (missed 2nd game of the season with a back ailment) and American DEF Chris Schuler (missed the first 2 games of the year recovering from offseason ankle surgery) have returned to everyday football with full health.
Standings:
http://i.imgur.com/MThGVhO.png
Venue:
http://www.sandynow.com/typo3temp/pics/e3a60ead0f.jpg
I hope you guys enjoy this matchup!! GO TFC!!!