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Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC Prediction, 7/17/2022 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 7/14/2022

soccer picks Maikel Chang Real Salt Lake predictions best bet odds

Game: Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC

Date: Sunday, July 17, 2022

Location: Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Salt Lake (-128) Kansas City (+367)

Roger Espinoza and Sporting KC (5-4-11, 13th in Western Conference) head to Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday where they'll take on Real Salt Lake (8-6-5, 3rd in Western Conference). The expected starting goalkeepers will be David Ochoa for Real Salt Lake and Tim Melia for Sporting KC. The moneyline on this contest has Real Salt Lake coming in at -128 and Sporting Kansas City is at +367. The over/under is set at 2.5.

Salt Lake took the field against Colorado in their last matchup and walked away with a draw with a final of 2-2. In sharing the ball, they earned a 94.6% received passes percentage by converting 280 out of their 296 targeted passes last match. RSL tried 10 dribbles in this contest and were successful in 7 of the attempts for a rate of 70.0%.

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Regarding shot accuracy, Salt Lake wrapped this game up at a 14.3% rate by landing 2 shots on target of 14 total shots. Salt Lake is averaging 1.26 goals per 90 (24 total goals) and have accounted for 17 assists in all games this season.

Maikel Chang is a guy who can be a difference maker for Real Salt Lake. He has totaled 48 assists while accumulating 20 yellow card warnings so far in his pro soccer career. Chang has had a starting assignment in 190 contests so far in his pro soccer career while scoring 0.20 goals per 90 minutes. The midfielder hailing from Cuba has tallied 36 goals scored in 16,541 minutes played.

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Another player who should impact this match is Rubio Rubin, the forward born in the United States. He has assisted on a goal 11 times during his career while scoring 19 total goals. Rubin has been on the pitch for 6,448 mins in 67 starts and has been given a total of 0 yellow card warnings. He is currently averaging 0.27 goals per 90 minutes for his pro soccer career.

The man who is expected to protect the net for Real Salt Lake will be David Ochoa. Ochoa (20-8-20 mark during his soccer career) has accumulated 9 shutouts, which leaves him with a 18.8% clean sheet rate. The keeper hailing from the United States has had 219 shots sent in his direction in 48 starts. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.52 (73 total goals allowed) and he is the owner of a save percentage of 67.6. Ochoa has seen the pitch for a total of 4,320 mins and has earned 151 stops in his career.

For their last outing, Kansas City walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 1-0 against New York. Sporting KC finished with a 45.0% successful dribble rate by connecting on 9 out of the 20 dribbles they attempted. They wrapped up this match by connecting on 349 of the 426 passes they attempted earning a rate of 81.9%. Kansas City landed 3 shots on target out of 6 shots attempted earning them a 50.0% rate in their last game. With 17 goals and 9 assists in all their matches, Kansas City averages 0.85 goals and 0.45 assists per 90 minutes.

Roger Espinoza will need to provide a lift for Sporting KC. He sports an average of 0.05 G/90 and has been in the starting lineup in 288 games in his career. The defender representing Honduras has totaled 25,339 professional minutes and has scored 14 goals. He has totaled 74 yellow card cautions during his pro soccer career and has helped on a goal 30 times. Be sure to keep an eye out for Johnny Russell, the forward born in Scotland. Russell has been handed a total of 32 yellow card cautions in 30,028 professional minutes (339 career starts). His G/90 average thus far in his career is 0.33. He has totaled 110 goals in his career while assisting on a goal 56 times.

Tim Melia will look after the net for Sporting KC. Melia has totaled 70 clean sheets while seeing 975 shots against him in 20,933 mins throughout his career. He holds a save percentage of 71.0 and his clean sheet rate is currently 30.0%. He has given up 1.28 goals per 90 mins while he holds a mark of 95-58-81. So far in his career, Melia has surrendered 298 goals and has racked up 687 saves in 233 starts.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Kansas City (+367)

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