Former teammate, all-time leading scorer now an opponent as RSL heads to DC

SANDY — It seems like only two weeks ago that Real Salt Lake players were talking about current D.C. United striker Alvaro Saborio in glowing terms as a teammate and the team's top scorer in 2015.

But that's probably because it was.

Now RSL midfielder Javier Morales leads the team with five goals and seven assists, and RSL (7-7-9, 29 points) starts a monstrous road trip that will take them through three countries and two competitions on Saturday against Saborio and D.C. United at 5 p.m. MT at RFK Stadium.

The good news for RSL? The scouting report on Saborio, who scored a goal in his D.C. debut last week during a 3-2 win over Philadelphia, will be easy, RSL coach Jeff Cassar said.

"He looked very light, very lively, he moved well. He looked dangerous on crosses," Cassar told reporters before departing for the nation's capitol. "Everything you would expect from a forward. (Former RSL striker) Fabian (Espindola) was dangerous in his movements as well. We're going to have to be very organized in the back, and aware of him at all times."

Having the advance scouting knowledge of one of Major League Soccer's top goal scorers — and RSL's all-time leader in goals — can be an advantage. But it can also be a detriment, defender Aaron Maund quickly added.

"I think I know some of his tendencies, but then again, he also knows some of our tendencies," Maund said. "We'll just have to be honest with him, have a good effort in the back and keep the midfield involved and defend with 11."

This isn't the first time Maund has played against a former teammate, either with RSL or any other team. The now-veteran RSL center back also played with Saborio's trade replacement Luis Silva in Toronto, and he's seen plenty of faces come and go as RSL has transitioned over the past 18 months.

That doesn't make it less weird, at first. But it's part of the business.

"I think at the beginning (it appears weird), then it just becomes a regular game after you get into it," Maund said. "It's just 11 players on the field versus their 11.

"It's weird, but it's part of the business. (Saborio) isn't the first player I've seen traded from the team I'm on. But he's done so much for this club. It is definitely weird."

Beyond Saborio, league co-leaders D.C. United (11-7-5, 38 points) also count on Espindola to pick up the slack following an injury to team leader Chris Pontius, who is out with a calf injury.

United's come-from-behind win over the Union last week was their first win in three weeks, helping the club stop the bleeding of a potentially dangerous four-game slide.

RSL, meanwhile, could be without a few significant pieces of their own team. Silva is still listed as doubtful with a groin injury suffered before the trade, and Jordan Allen, Chris Schuler and Demar Phillips continue to nurse themselves back from a doubtful status. While the return of midfield captain Kyle Beckerman will help, goalkeeper Nick Rimando was listed as doubtful for Saturday's match with a right knee contusion suffered during his time with the U.S. men's national team at the Gold Cup.

Amid the changing faces and a few more injuries, it's easy to see why much of the focus will be on defending the Costa Rican international — but that can't be the only focus, midfielder Luke Mulholland said.

"You've always got to be careful when you trade a guy to another team — they always seem to play well against their old teams," RSL's Englishman added. "Hopefully we can keep him off the scoresheet.

"At the same time, we can't worry too much about him and not focus on the other parts of the team. They've got veterans at all different angles. But we're definitely looking to keep him off the scoresheet."

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