News: Real Salt Lake to face Deportivo Saprissa on July 23

SALT LAKE CITY (Friday, June 27, 2008) – Once again advancing its tradition of bringing world-class international competition to the State of Utah, Real Salt Lake today announced that Costa Rican power Deportivo Saprissa will serve as the club’s opponent for the team’s annual Pioneer Day Fireworks festivities. The teams square off on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:00 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium, just two weeks after the third consecutive XanGo Cup, as the 2008 edition welcomes Mexican titlist Santos Laguna on Wednesday, July 9, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with an 8:00 p.m. MT kickoff.

Deportivo Saprissa, known also as simply Saprissa, is owned by Mexican entrepreneur Jorge Vergara, who also currently owns famed Mexican soccer club Chivas de Guadalajara as well as RSL’s MLS expansion brethren, CD Chivas USA. The squad has served as the backbone of the Costa Rican National Team since the late 1980’s, often contributing a dozen players to the “Ticos” for international tournaments. RSL is unbeaten in its last four international friendlies, winning three times and drawing once.

Tickets for the 2008 Pioneer Day Event at Rice-Eccles Stadium featuring RSL vs. Saprissa and post-game fireworks are included in 2008 Royal Club Season Ticket packages as Bonus Ticket C. Royal Club members will also have an exclusive window to purchase additional tickets through Monday, June 30, at 12:00 p.m., at which time tickets will go on sale to the general public at all UTIX outlets, by phone at (801) 581-UTIX, and online at www.utahtickets.com. Tickets for the contest reflect 2008 RSL regular-season pricing of $17 (North Goal), $19 (Corner Flag), $28 (Premium) and $40 (VIP), with $16 KFC “Colonel’s Corner” vouchers available at 35 KFC locations across the Wasatch Front.

Deportivo Saprissa hails from San Juan de Tibás, San José, Costa Rica, and plays home games at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa (La Cueva). Saprissa is one of the most successful clubs in North America having won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup three times - in 1993, 1995, and 2005. Saprissa owns the most final appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with 3 first place finishes and 4 runners-up finishes.

They have also won five Central American crowns in 1972, 1973, 1978, 1998, and 2003 as well as 27 Primera División de Costa Rica championships (the most of any team). Arguably their most notable moment came in 2005 as they became the first, and so far only, non-Mexican club in CONCACAF to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, finishing in third place. The club's success has led to the Costa Rican press nicknaming the team El Monstruo Morado ("The Purple Monster"), a reference to their purple-coloured playing kit.

The exhibition against Saprissa marks the second international exhibition of 2008 for Real Salt Lake, which will have contested nine international opponents in its first three-plus seasons leading into Pioneer Day 2008. Last year, Real Salt Lake welcomed four international teams to the Wasatch Front, recording wins over the Fiji and China National Team selections in the spring before taking on English Premier League representative Everton FC and legendary Argentine side Boca Juniors in the first-ever XanGo Cup doubleheader across the Pioneer Day weekend. Wins over Fiji, China, and Everton, and a draw with Boca Juniors have brought RSL’s all-time record in international friendlies to 4-2-2, entering the upcoming matches vs. title-holders Santos (Mexico) and Saprissa (Costa Rica) this July.

www.RealSaltLake.com / www.RSLstadium.com / www.RSLtotheCore.com

and......... I couldn't care less.

Well, maybe if we made a spot in the champions cup (now league), we wouldn't have to schedule friendlies to have these teams come. But, i digress.

Its nice to see some high-quality North America sides coming. But, I just wish I would have seen one with some world-wide recognition. I guess we over did it last year with two world-class clubs.

Wow.

The cries for refunds begin in 3...2....

So does this mean that Santos are the Xango Cup this year?

2006 - RM
2007 - Everton, Boca Juniors
2008 - Santos

Much as I'm excited for Santos to come here, this is a downgrade.

When the word came of the RM deal falling through we were told to expect a high-level European team. I wonder if the Lyon deal falling through means that will not happen, or if there is potentially a 3rd deal in the works.

So Santos is Game "B", Saprissa is Game "C", who is game "A"??? And who replaces the RM ticket? Are they going to bring in two more teams, or are we going to all feel super gyped?

On a positive note, this game is much more reasonably priced...

Santos replaces RM, as they have been announced as the Xango cup opponent. That may seem like a letdown after expecting RM, and in truth it will be from a ticket sales perspective. Assuming Santos brings their squad, there really ought to be some good futbol played...they are a very talented squad. given the options available and the potential dates (they have now used up the July 23rd date...likely the best potential selling date), I would argue that this is likely the only pair of teams RSL will bring in at a cost. They may well bring on a game like the Fiji game, but I certainly wouldn't expect to see another big name this year.

Anybody know if they plan to bring in grass for the Santos game? Or will they simply play on the turf?

Not really anything special. They are a decent team. Not going to bring out a huge crowd.

I didn't know that the owner was the same as Chivas... that is interesting.

Didn't Saprissa kick the crap out of Houston earlier this year?

Yes, Saprissa beat Houston 0-0, 3-0 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They went on to lose 1-1, 2-1 to Pachuca in the finals.

So it will be a formidable foe. Should be a good match, I am more excited about this one than Santos.

Well, not to be offensive, but that reflects your knowledge of world football.

Santos will be much stiffer competition. Heck, the following players on Santos would start for most teams in this hemisphere:

Fernando Ortiz
Walter Adrián Jiménez
Daniel Emmanuel Ludueña
Christian Benítez
Vicente Matías Vuoso

Frankly, Saprissa is a step down from Santos. I was indifferent about Santos before, but now knowing who our Pioneer Day opponent will be, I'm much more excited about Santos.

An interesting tidbit for those that have followed RSL from the beginning: Saprissa boasts the services of a certain midfielder: Pablo Andres Brenes.

If that name rings a bell, its because Brenes was one of Ellinger's pathetic signings. After playing with the Metrostars for 14 games and finishing his first MLS season with no goals or assists, Brenes was then taken by Real Salt Lake in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft. However, he never played a game with the team. He was traded to Saprissa for an even more pathetic signing: Douglas Sequeira.

Pass #2
Man I'm glad I dropped the season tickets this year.

Whatever the case was, I'm sure he's happier with Saprissa. With Saprissa, he has won two national championships, two short championships, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup. He has been a runner-up in the Copa Interclubes UNCAF and Copa Ricard and was part of the team that played the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup, where Saprissa finished third behind São Paulo Futebol Clube and Liverpool F.C.

Doubt they'd put grass down, since Saprissa's home stadium is Field Turf.

Re: RSL News - 2008, Part 3 [R]

Well I can say I wont be going to either one of the friendly games. Costa Rican champions?? I mean really...

For all the whiney babies out there, suck it up. I'm in Costa Rica right now and they are stoked about this. I guess since they don't play baseball or basketball or any other non football sport, football is a good thing for them. Not a lot of prima donnas who whine if someone from the Premier League doesn't show up.

If this team is to succeed here, all the true followers we can get. Hey Dickov del Horno & bordelais7 , please don't show up. Have your Mommies fix your baba's, binkies and blankies and go take a nappy poo. All you Sunshine Soldiers and Summer Patriots can all melt away. Those of us who care about this side don't need you.

HURRAY!!! A super true and awesome and studly and kick ass and hard rockin and never say die and fantastic and hard core and bad to the bone and extra manly and really real fan shows up to set the record straight. Moron.

PS - Thomas Paine? Really?

I'm more excited about Saprissa because I have a frame of reference to base them off of. I have seen them play a team that we have played, and enjoyed watching them. I dont doubt that Santos is the better team, with better players. I just have never seen them play.
So i guess that makes me ignorant of world football.

Re: RSL News - 2008, Part 3 [R]

I remembered a little bit about Saprissa from previous years Champions Cups, a tournament that hosts winners of the domestic leagues in CONCACAF, and thought I remembered them doing quite well. I haven't researched the actual results against MLS teams, but I think its pretty unfair to say that they couldn't compete. I'm actually pretty happy with the game being scheduled after reading this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportivo_Saprissa

Re: RSL News - 2008, Part 3 [R]

So, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to research. In those Champions Cup tournaments, Saprissa has played in 4 series against MLS competition. These home and home contests were won in every case by Saprissa.

Looking at the results though, it looks like there are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of 90+ minute goals. Seems a little sketchy. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to a nice competitive game...assuming both teams treat it as such.