Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC Prediction, 5/1/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 4/27/2021

Game: Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021

Location: Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Salt Lake (+150) Kansas City (+136)

Albert Rusnak and Real Salt Lake (1-0-0, 7th in Western Conference) host Sporting KC (1-1-0, 4th in Western Conference) at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday. The goaltenders who are expected to start will be Andrew Putna for Real Salt Lake and John Pulskamp for Sporting KC. RSL is priced at +150 while Sporting Kansas City is at +136. The over/under is set at 2.5.

Salt Lake took the field against Minnesota in their most recent game and notched a win by a score of 2-1. In sharing the ball, they ended with a 81.0% passes received rate by completing 363 out of their 448 pass attempts in their last match. RSL attempted 7 dribbles in this contest and were able to convert 4 of the tries for a rate of 57.1%. In terms of shooting accuracy, Salt Lake finished the game at a 36.4% rate by putting 4 shots on target out of 11 total shots. Salt Lake has an average of 2.00 g/90 (2 goals in total) and have racked up 2 assists in all matches for this campaign.

Albert Rusnak is one guy you are going to want to keep your eye on for Real Salt Lake. Rusnak has been given a starting assignment in 175 games in his career and he accounts for 0.25 goals per 90 minutes. The forward representing Czech Republic has 42 goals scored in 15,064 mins played. He has totaled 30 assists while accumulating 13 yellow cards so far in his career. One more guy who should impact this match is Damir Kreilach, the forward who represents Croatia. Kreilach has played 28,840 mins in 326 starting assignments and has been handed a total of 61 yellow card warnings. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 26 times during his career and he has scored 78 goals. He is averaging 0.24 goals per 90 for his career.

The guy who will defend the goal for Real Salt Lake will be Andrew Putna. Putna has been on the pitch for a total of 3,735 mins and has tallied 108 saves during his soccer career. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.40 (58 total goals conceded) and he holds a save % of 65.5. The goalkeeper hailing from the United States has had 165 shots sent his way in 41 career starts. Putna (19-10-12 mark in his professional soccer career) has accumulated 13 shutouts, which leaves him with a 31.7% shutout rate.

When they last stepped on the pitch, Kansas City earned the draw by finishing with a tally of 1-1 against Orlando. They wrapped up this match by completing 297 out of their 358 attempted passes for a rate of 83.0%. Sporting KC finished the match with a 78.6% successful dribble percentage by completing 11 out of the 14 dribbles they pursued. Kansas City converted 5 shots on target out of 10 shots attempted earning them a 50.0% clip in their last match. Having tallied 3 goals and 1 assist in all competitions, Kansas City is averaging 1.50 goals and 0.50 assists per 90 minutes.

Khiry Shelton should provide a spark for Sporting KC. He is currently averaging 0.21 G/90 and has started 59 games in his career. The forward hailing from the United States has 5,705 mins and he has scored 13 goals. He has totaled 6 yellow cards in his pro soccer career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 12 times. Make sure to keep an eye out for Johnny Russell, the forward representing Scotland. Russell has been handed a total of 27 yellow card warnings in 26,172 professional minutes played (294 starting assignments). His goals per 90 average in his career is 0.31. He has 90 goals so far in his career while assisting a teammate on a goal 49 different times.

John Pulskamp is expected to look after the goal for Sporting KC. So far in his career, Pulskamp has given up 39 goals and has accumulated 60 stops in 18 starting assignments. He has allowed 2.17 goals per 90 minutes while earning a record of 6-3-9. He sports a save % of 61.9 and his shutout rate sits at 16.7%. Pulskamp has racked up 3 shutouts and defended 97 shots against him in 1,620 minutes in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLS game ATS?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Kansas City (+136)

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Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC Prediction, 5/1/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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