After Charlotte drubbing, SDFC fans look for signs of bouncebackability at home against low scoring RSL

San Diego hope a boisterous home crowd will end their two game losing streak, both on the road
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

San Diego experience the worst result of their short history last week when losing 3-0 to Charlotte FC. It marked their second consecutive loss, the first occurence in the club’s inaugural season.

Real Salt Lake also enter the Snapdragon Stadium contest on the back of two straight losses, each by one goal.

After losing Ariath Piol to a 23rd minute red card, they understandably toiled against Dallas, for who Luciano Acosta scored the game’s only goal.

“Only two sides, St Louis and LA Galaxy have scored less goals than RSL so the Utah side will be hopeful of piercing a defense that’s been leaky recently. That may be where the game is won and lost”

Although scoring first in Nashville, they fell 2-1 to a late Sam Sturridge penalty in stoppage time.

SDFC however have shipped three goals in each of their last two games, losing 3-2 in Colorado’s altitude before the Charlotte setback. They only conceded six goals in their first seven games, but now have let in six more in their last two matches.

Both were away from home but as a result Mikey Varas’ side have slipped to sixth in the Western Conference table, their lowest position so far this season.

RSL lie 11th with three wins and six defeats.

The line up for San Diego in Charlotte was as follows:

GK CJ Dos Santos; D Jasper Löffelsend, D Andrés Reyes, D Paddy McNair, D Christopher McVey; M Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (Alex Mighten, 46’), M Jeppe Tverskov (c), (Aníbal Godoy, 77’), F Onni Valakari (Luca de la Torre, 46’); F Anders Dreyer (Milan Iloski, 68’), F Tomás Ángel (Hamady Diop 44’); F Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

Defender Reyes made his first SDFC start but became the holder of an unwanted record. He received SDFC’s first ever red card inside the first half, leaving his side shorthanded for the entirety of the second while chasing a two goal deficit.

The four sides directly ahead of SDFC are only one or two points ahead, so a win could project them up to as high as second place, as none of the four play each other. Then again, a win could leave them in sixth. Likewise, a loss could see them fall to ninth with the chasing pack not far behind.

Only two sides, St Louis and LA Galaxy have scored less goals than RSL so the Utah side will be hopeful of piercing a defense that’s been leaky recently. That may be where the game is won and lost.

Real Salt Lake have the folliwng players unvailable: Matthew Bell (hamstring), Javain Brown (knee), Kobi Henry (hamstring) and Zac MacMath (shoulder).

San Diego FC are missing Emmanuel Boateng (lower body), Luca Bombino (lower body) and Marcus Ingvartsen (lower body) and of course Reyes will be suspended due to his red card.

Kick off

The match kicks off at 4.30 on Saturday, April 26th Pacific Time.