Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Real Salt Lake: 3 things to watch for
By Daniel Garza
Three things to watch for as the Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Salt Lake return to action on Friday night.
Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps will be back on the pitch on Friday as both Western Conference clubs return from the June international break. It will be the first meeting of the season between these two clubs and they will both be in search of all three points. Both teams won just one match in May which has resulted in them currently being outside of the top seven in the Western Conference table. Here are three things to watch for ahead of the match.
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Whitecaps look to end three-match losing streak
It was a rough finish to the May schedule for the Whitecaps. They lost their final three fixtures of the month and were held goalless in two of those defeats. Against RSL, the visitors will certainly be looking to end this losing streak and get back to winning ways. It will be important for them to get a positive result from this match as their next two fixtures following the RSL match will be against the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders. Friday looks to be their best chance of recording a victory during June. If they do not record points against RSL, the winless streak could continue into July.
Another draw for RSL?
The last three league fixtures have ended in draws for RSL. They’ve blown a lead late in a match and have also equalized late in their two most recent results. On the bright side of these results is that only the Sounders have lost fewer matches than RSL in the Western Conference thus far. RSL has lost just once in the six matches but they will certainly be looking to end a winless streak of four matches against the Whitecaps. Another draw could see them remain outside of the top seven at the end of the weekend.
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Will Rubio Rubin’s good form continue?
Rubin has been one of the best offensive players in the Western Conference in the early stages of the season. The forward has scored four goals and registered two assists in six appearances. He is certainly a player to watch for in June as he looks to continue his offensive production. Against the Whitecaps, Rubin has the opportunity to become the first RSL player to reach the five-goal mark this season. Additionally, a goal on Friday would allow him to inch closer to the top places in the race for the Golden Boot.