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GameDay Forecast for
Seattle, WaForecast May 8th, 2010Day
Partly Sunny72°Fwind speed: 11 mph ENEwind gusts: 18 mph
The Sounders are set up with a big challenge this week with their match against the defending champs Real Salt Lake. The last time these two teams met was back in August of 09, which resulted in a 1-0 loss for the Sounders. Redemption song.
As with any championship team, Real Salt Lake did not make a lot of drastic changes. Their starting lineup this year is very similar to last years. The keys to success for the Sounders today will be converting on goal scoring opportunities and occupying Kyle Beckerman in the midfield. Becherman may not be the biggest scorer in the league, but as a assist player he is in the top 5 for the league.
Seattle & Salt Lakes’s Home and Away Stats Last Year
2009
| Real Salt Lake | Seattle Sounders | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Home | Away | Total | Home | Away | |
| Wins | 15 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Losses | 12 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Ties | 7 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Clean Sheets | 12 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Avg. Goals | 1.41 | 2.19 | 0.72 | 1.19 | 1.31 | 1.06 |
| Avg. Goals Conceded | 1.12 | 0.69 | 1.5 | 0.94 | 0.96 | 1.25 |
As you can see from the stats above, Real Salt Lake likes to win at home. Last year they conceded only one loss at home, while also scoring on average, over 2.2 goals a game at home. Thankfully, the Sounders are one of the best road teams in the league and should at least expect a tie out of today’s game.
Pat Noonan is expected to play a bigger roll in the match and hopefully will be able to score his Seattle Sounders FC debut goal today. Time to shake those “goal scoring drought” fears.
Players to watch out for today on Real Salt Lake: Javier Morales – M, Kyle Beckerman – M, Robbie Findley – F, and Jamison Olave – D