Real Salt Lake boss Mastroeni laments 'dire situation' after Booth injury

Real Salt Lake host FC Dallas in MLS on Wednesday, and Pablo Mastroeni's hosts will be without exciting winger Zach Booth due to injury.

Real Salt Lake are facing a "dire situation" following an injury to young winger Zach Booth, head coach Pablo Mastroeni said ahead of Wednesday's meeting with FC Dallas.

RSL sit seventh in the Western Conference, currently occupying the final automatic play-off spot with a game in hand on most of the teams around them in the standings.

They drew 1-1 with Minnesota United on Saturday, extending their wait for a first MLS win since beating the Colorado Rapids prior to the World Cup break.

They suffered a major blow when Excelsior loanee Booth went off early, having gone down clutching his hamstring, while designated player Morgan Guilavogui was already sidelined as a result of the league's concussion protocols.

Reflecting on Booth's injury, Mastroeni told KSL Sports: "Just to be clear, with an injury like that to any player – but especially a player with his speed – with all the stress he must put on his hamstring...

"I assume it will be at least a month, but it could be more than that. I think it will be more like six to eight weeks. And the majority of our games are in the next two months.

"So I think it's a bit of a dire situation for us at the moment, and that was always the concern.

"Zach hasn't played a whole lot of minutes, and now getting thrown in and with how he uses his speed, it was always a concern. It's unfortunate for the young man, he was doing great."

Dallas are two points and two places above RSL in the West, with Eric Quill's team boosting their play-off hopes with a 2-1 win over Texas rivals Austin FC on Sunday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Sergi Solans

Solans scored Real Salt Lake's lone goal in their 1-1 draw with Minnesota last time out, his second straight match with a goal.

He has been involved in a team-high 11 goals in 18 matches in his debut MLS season, and only Cristian Arango (19) and Albert Rusnak (12) were involved in more goals in their first 18 matches for RSL.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa scored the winner against Austin on Sunday, which was his 49th goal scored for Dallas in MLS play (regular season and playoffs).

He is looking to become the third player to score at least 50 MLS goals (including playoffs) for Dallas, after Jason Kreis (95) and Jesus Ferreira (54).

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Real Salt Lake's regular-season winless run extended to five matches (D3 L2) following their draw against Minnesota.

RSL conceded a late equaliser against the Loons, and they have led at some point in four of the five matches during this winless run.

However, the Opta supercomputer forecasts an end to their difficult streak here, despite the fact they have only won one of their last nine meetings with Dallas (D3 L5).

Dallas have only won one of their last four away regular-season games (D2 L1), and in all competitions, Real Salt Lake have won five of their last six matches at home (D1).