Following a much-needed break for international play, Real Salt Lake prepare for a midweek match against Sacramento Republic FC of USL. Real will have a full slate of first team players to choose from, save Albert Rusnák and Nick Rimando, who are still on international duty. Head coach Mike Petke also told the media last week that he expects to call-up several Real Monarchs players, who are currently the top team in USL, for the Open Cup contest.
Of those Monarchs players being called up, arguably the most deserving won’t be with them. Chandler Hoffman and Sebastian Velasquez have been ruled ineligible by a CBA rule, stating players on affiliate rosters over the age of 25 are unable to be called up to the first-team.