COLUMBUS CREW v REAL SALT LAKE
Two teams currently out of the playoff picture in their respective conferences meet in the intersectional matchup in Columbus. The Crew haven't won in 12 consecutive games as they settled at the foot of the Eastern Conference, but find themselves just four points out of the playoff picture with 10 games left. Real Salt Lake have put together a two-game winning streak and are unbeaten in three, but they still find themselves seven points adrift of fourth place and the last playoff place in the Western Conference.
INJURY REPORT: COLUMBUS CREW - OUT: MF Danny Szetela (R knee); MF Leonard Bisaku (R quadriceps), GK Jonny Walker (lower back), DF Jed Zayner (L knee ACL); DF Frankie Hejduk (R knee ACL); GK Jon Busch (R knee ACL) ... REAL SALT LAKE - OUT: DF Paul Broome (L ankle internal derangement); MF Seth Trembly (L knee ACL tear); MF Christian Jimenez (L knee ACL tear); DF Danny Torres (R foot sprain); PROBABLE: DF Nelson Akwari (R hip contusion); DF Cameron Knowles (L hamstring strain);: DF Eddie Pope (R foot contusion)
SUSPENDED: RSL: Douglas Sequeira (through Aug. 16)
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CLB: Jose Retiz ... RSL: Jeff Cunningham
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CLB: Ritchie Kotschau, Brandon Moss, Joseph Ngwenya ... RSL: Scott Garlick, Jason Kreis, Carey Talley, Andy Williams
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
(Source MLS webbie)
With the mess Crews are in, RSL looks tempting after two victories on the road. Last game against Colarado saw the best of them with a 4 goal victory. They seem to be playing with much more confidence after the Real Madrid exhibition game where they lost 2 nil.
Verdict : Will await Kiko's expertise on MLs 