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[monks data]
Real Salt Lake
Major League Soccer
Jul 9, 2023 at 2.30am UK
Rio Tinto Stadium
Orlando City

Salt Lake
4 - 0
Orlando City

Arango (23'), Glad (41'), Savarino (78'), Julio (88')
Luna (53'), Ojeda (62'), Vera (70')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Cartagena (38'), Santos (43')

Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sunday morning's MLS action brings the Western Conference face-to-face with the Eastern Conference when Real Salt Lake hosts Orlando City at America First Field.

Salt Lake are undefeated in all competitions since the start of June, while Orlando are on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.


Match preview

Real Salt Lake midfielder Damir Kreilach (8) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Odd as it sounds, Salt Lake may be unhappy at returning to Utah to host Orlando this weekend due to their wretched results in front of their fans.

Pablo Mastroeni's team have the second-fewest points accrued at home (10) in the Western Conference, which is a stark contrast to having the best road record in that section, picking up 20 points from 11 games on their travels.

Those away points account for RSL's standing in the playoff spots, and they could rise as high as second in the Western Conference if they win this weekend and both Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC lose their games.

However, an awful record on their turf means the home side cannot look that far ahead but look downwards in the table, with fifth-placed Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo all closing in on Mastroeni's men.

Failure to score in three of the last five at their ground inspires little confidence, even if they have picked up draws in three of four in front of their fans.

Orlando City SC forward Duncan McGuire (13) celebrates his goal with teammates on April 16, 2023© Reuters

Orlando could inflict Salt Lake's fifth home defeat in this year's MLS by making the most of their impressive road form this season.

Oscar Pareja's troops have picked up more away points than anyone in the Eastern Conference, and success this weekend would add to the 15 they have accrued.

Only Charlotte FC (15) have netted more than the Lions' 14 road goals, a statistic that puts Orlando in a positive light because the former have played two more away games than Pareja's side.

The visitors are four points clear of Salt Lake in the combined MLS table and are guaranteed to stay ahead regardless of the result this weekend.

Due to the five-point lead they have on eighth-placed DC United; Orlando are also guaranteed to remain in the top seven regardless of the upcoming game's outcome.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:


Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):


Orlando City Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Real Salt Lake midfielder Maikel Chang (16) celebrates after scoring a goal on May 10, 2023© Reuters

Zack Farnsworth (hamstring) and Axel Kei (ankle) are ruled out, having not played all season for RSL.

Erik Holt has not played since injuring his shoulder in May, and the defender is sidelined this weekend.

Abdi Salim is still absent with a knee injury and will not feature for Orlando on Sunday morning.

Cesar Araujo had a storming game in the Lions' 4-0 thrashing of Toronto FC, scoring and assisting in the resounding victory, and the central midfielder could have a decisive say in this weekend's outcome.


Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Savarino, Ojeda, Loffelsend, Luna; Musovski, Kreilach

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Smith, Carlos, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire


SM words green background

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 Orlando City

Despite failing to win their last two on the road, Orlando are expected to claim a slender win over Salt Lake, whose egregious home form should result in a fifth defeat in front of their supporters.

How to watch

You can watch Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Salt Lake vs Orlando City

Real Salt Lake
17.6%
Draw
23.5%
Orlando City
58.8%
17
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1594236201631
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati149321911830
3New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls146532521423
4New York City FCNY City147251816223
5Toronto147162120122
6Columbus Crew135621913621
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC146351413121
8Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia134542521417
9DC United144552024-417
10Orlando City134451520-516
11Nashville SCNashville133641720-315
12Atlanta UnitedAtlanta133461716113
13CF MontrealMontreal133371731-1412
14Chicago Fire142481326-1310
15New England RevolutionNew England12219925-167

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake1484227141328
2Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd127322114724
3Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy145722521422
4Austin FCAustin146441917222
5Los Angeles FCLos Angeles136342419521
6Colorado RapidsColorado146352423121
7Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver135441915419
8Houston DynamoHouston135351213-118
9St Louis City133731920-116
10Seattle SoundersSeattle143561617-114
11Portland TimbersPortland143472629-313
12Dallas123361317-412
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas132562124-311
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes1431102233-1110


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