Real Salt Lake vs. CD Saprissa - CONCACAF Champions League preview (part 1)
After thrashing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Columbus-Crew-c38850 in the quarter-finals with an aggregate of 4—1, the only Major League Soccer team in the CONCACAF Champions League, Real Salt Lake will face Costa Rican outfit, Deportiva Saprissa in the first leg of the semi-finals at their home ground in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, 15 March.
RSL has been marvellous in the current CCL season, defeating top flights en route to the semi-finals. Out of the six Group A matches played last year the team only lost one. The first leg against of the pool matches against Mexican outfit, Cruz Azul went the hosts side but RSL made a comeback in the second match at Rio Tinto beating C Azul, 3 - 1.
The first match of the quarter-finals against the fellow MLS team, Crew ended in a scoreless draw but it was Rio Tinto again in the second tie. Salt Lake kept the streak of undefeated scrimmages at home, winning the match, 4—1.
On the other side of fence the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-Salt-Lake-c40339.
Saprissa has the same pedigree as RSL as far as their home ground is concerned. The team has lost a very few number of matches at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá. The place has been given the nickname of Monster’s Den and very well put by the fans as the pressure of playing infront of San Jose spectators has become a tough job over the years. The teams cannot bear the embarrassment in front of their audience and get under pressure in the run of play.
This should bother the American team as they face Costa Ricans in Salt Lake City. Therefore, Kreis will be looking to bag the home game with a reasonable lead that can help them to qualify for the final even if they lose the away tie at San Jose.
The winner of the two-legged semi-finals will face either http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Monterrey-c39943 in the final of the continental league. The second semi-tie between RSL and Saprissa is scheduled on 5 April at Estadio Ricardo.
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