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Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS Match Preview

REAL SALT LAKE vs VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
RIO TINTO STADIUM, Sandy, Utah
April 18, 2015 (WEEK 7, MLS Game #62)
9:30 p.m. ET (TSN1)

A meeting of early-season high-fliers in the Western Conference is ahead when Real Salt Lake play host to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real are one of two undefeated teams still remaining in MLS, coming off a scoreless draw at Sporting Kansas City last week. Whitecaps FC still lead the MLS overall table, despite having had their five-game undefeated run put to an end last Saturday in a 1-0 loss at the San Jose Earthquakes.

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This match is blacked out in Canada.

• Real remain one of two teams still undefeated in MLS this season, now with a 2-0-3 record following a scoreless draw at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. RSL has recorded back-to-back shutouts and has not conceded a goal away from Rio Tinto Stadium in three games this season.
• Whitecaps FC saw their five-game undefeated streak come to an end in a 1-0 defeat at the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening. It was the first game this year where Vancouver was shut out; it was also the first goal they had allowed on the road this season.
• Whitecaps FC defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 in the final meeting between the teams a year ago, Sept. 27 at BC Place, their first win in the series since Aug. 11, 2012. Real had won two of the six meetings in between, with four draws.
• Whitecaps FC have never won at Rio Tinto Stadium; Real have won three of their six home matches in the series, with three draws. The only victory by a road team in the all-time series came in 2013, a 1-0 Real victory at BC Place.

REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Jeff Muschik; AR2 (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Tyler Ploeger MLS Career: 17 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 4; pens: 6

)

SUSPENDED: VAN: Pedro Morales (through April 19)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: VAN: Kendall Waston
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: VAN: Gershon Koffie, Pa-Modou Kah
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): Real 4 wins, 13 goals … Whitecaps FC 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 4
AT SALT LAKE (6 meetings): Real 3 wins, 9 goals … Whitecaps FC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 3
RETURN MATCHES: 5/30: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 3 p.m. PT; 8/8: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m. PT

New York Red Bulls to host Autism Awareness Night in honor of GM's 7-year-old daughter

The New York Red Bulls will pay homage to a very special young girl Friday night when theyplay host to the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena.

• PREVIEW: NY-SJ, Friday, 7 pm ET, UniMás, UnivisionDeportes.com

Julia de Grandpre, the 7-year-old daughter of Red Bulls general manager Marc de Grandpre, is the team’s biggest fan, loves captain Dax McCarty – although she thinks he’s a member of the band One Direction – and also has autism, reports the local NBC affiliate. And with that in mind, the Red Bulls will host Autism Awareness Night during Friday’s game, with a portion of ticket sales going to autism-based charities.

“She's a pretty special little girl," midfielder Dax McCarty told NBC New York. "Her attitude is infectious."

Julia is a constant presence around the team this season, clad in her Red Bulls jersey and calling the players “my boys.” On game days, though, the crush of activity and noise can be difficult, so the team will create special sections where families can sit with designated "safe zones" to retreat to in case the atmosphere gets too overwhelming. Game-day staff will also do its best to soften the video and music noise.

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“When we score goals, she gets excited and then a few seconds later, something clicks," de Grandpre said in the NBC report.

De Grandpre said it’s heart-warming to see the impact his daughter has had on the team and her impact on other children with similar challenges.

“It's good to see she's helping make a difference,” he said.

Toronto FC aim to bust slump, avoid self-inflicted defensive wounds on visit to FC Dallas

TORONTO – Toronto FC head to Toyota Stadium to take on FC Dallas in game five of a seven-game road trip on Saturday (8:30 pm ET, TSN5 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US). Having lost their last three matches, TFC boss Greg Vanney is looking to reverse the team’s fortunes in the Texas heat, with one big key in mind.

“For us, we have to defend better, first and foremost, just collectively and also eliminate some of the individual mistakes,” Vanney told reporters at training Tuesday. “The biggest thing for us is not to shoot ourselves in the foot by making mistakes and giving away goals that are relatively soft goals. If we do that, I think we can pick up points because we play some pretty good soccer.”

For Vanney, another bye week early in the season provided him an opportunity to work with his group of players in order to try and fix some of the defensive errors that have cost the team dearly. Whether it's goals conceded late or right after scoring one of their own, Vanney identified a few of the factors that must improve to get three points against FCD. 

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“Well, first is, when we’re in possession, we have to make sure we’re disciplined about our positioning behind the ball,” Vanney said. “The guys who are not immediately involved in the possession need to be more alert and in better positions to deal with transitions when they take place. So, the first thing is not losing the ball in bad places.”

Vanney says he's pleased with the way his team has dealt with counterattacks – pointing out that his side rarely gets hurt in transition and are adept at recovering possession. But he says TFC must minimize individual mistakes, especially off crosses where clearances aren’t being made. 

“The second thing is making sure that our organization and discipline and shape behind our attacks is in good standing,” he explained. “There’s a fine line between being a little more composed and calm and making plays but also being more urgent and getting support to guys and preventing crosses. Sometimes I think our mistakes are made out of anxiousness instead of being composed and understanding that you have things under control.

“You don’t need to make a really great play; just make a really simple play.”

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Vanney will be hoping these simple plays will come more easily with a touch more experience in the back line as Damien Perquis and Eriq Zavaleta return from injury. Mark Bloom remains questionable, however, and Steven Caldwell is once again out with injury, as is Clement Simonin. 

But the team will have Michael Bradley available, even after the US midfielder put in a full shift in the US national team's 2-0 win over Mexico midweek. 

“I spoke to him after the game and he was feeling good,” said Vanney. “He’s excited to rejoin the team and we told him we would give him a couple of days to recover.” 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Date	Home Team			Away Team
7:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at RFK Stadium	D.C. United				Houston	MLS LIVE CSN-Washington ROOT Sports SW	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
7:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at MAPFRE Stadium	Columbus				Orlando	MLS LIVE FOX 35/MY65 Sun Sports TWCSC-OH	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
8:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Toyota Stadium	FC Dallas				Toronto FC	TSN5 MLS LIVE TWCSC-TX	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
9:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Dick's Sporting Goods Park	Colorado				Seattle	MLS LIVE Altitude JOEtv	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
9:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Rio Tinto Stadium	Real Salt Lake				Vancouver	TSN1 TSN3 MLS LIVE KMYU	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
10:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Stubhub Center	LA Galaxy				Sporting KC	MLS LIVE KMCI-38 TWCSN-LA	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Date	Home Team			Away Team
5:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at PPL Park	Philadelphia				New England	ESPN2 ESPN Deportes MLS LIVE	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS
7:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Yankee Stadium	New York City				Portland	Fox Sports 1 FOX Deportes MLS LIVE	MATCHCENTERGET TICKETS