Real Salt Lake Scouting Report

Following a thrilling 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo Sporting Kc are on the road for the first time in over a month. In that month Sporting have seen a slow climb to 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. Albeit a few rungs fell out of place along the way. Now Sporting must head over to Salt Lake City to face a very strong Real Salt Lake side who are currently 4th in the West with 45 points. 5 more than Sporting Kc have. But for the first time in a long time I believe that a top-class team (RSL) are actually afraid of us, whether that is a good or bad thing is yet to be determined.

Most Dangerous Player
Kyle Beckerman. The USMNT midfielder has assisted on 8 occasions and scored on 3 for RSL. The captain has shown tremednous leadership through and through for RSL and will look to stop any attack Sporting Kc have going forward. Sitting in that CDM role he could thwart many Zusi attacks.

Weakest Link
Center back. Although Olave has been a star for RSL at the heart of defense there have been some signs throughout the season that RSL's defense has been a little bit stingy compared to the form we saw last season. Although Rimando will be the last line of defense behind them the CB's needs to step up their game if they are to stop a rompant Sporting Kc side who have scored 5 goals in 2 games.

Football Style
RSL usually plays a very fluid type of football, running their team through Kyle Beckerman. Although they don't play direct they they do play a lot of long balls to their speedy forwards. Also, watch out for the quick counter-attack from the outside backs and midfielders. That's one of the things RSL is built on.

Key Match-Up 
Sporting KC's Starting XI vs. Sporting KC's Starting XI
With almost a full strength squad for Vermes to choose from it will be interesting to see who makes the cut. Myers is rumored to be injured and Collin looks the likely replacement. There are also so many forwards for Vermes to choose from, not to mention the midfield. But what Vermes needs to focus on is form. If he sticks with that Sporting Kc might have a chance.

Prediction
Sporting Kc - 1 (Bunbury)
Real Salt Lake - 1 (Espindola)