Real Salt Lake Goalkeeper David Ochoa Expected To Return This Week Against LAFC

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa is expected to return from injury this upcoming Sunday, September 12th, when Real Salt Lake travels to Banc of California Stadium for a date with Los Angeles Football Club.

Ochoa has been absent since July 24th when Real Salt Lake beat Colorado Rapids 3-0 at home. Since then, Ochoa has been sidelined with multiple leg injuries. At first, it began with a tight quad muscle but soon materialized into something more serious.

"𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫." – @davidochoagk@realsaltlake & @miseleccionmxEN keeper David Ochoa joined @BrianDunseth & @CharlieDavies9 to discuss his choice to represent 🇲🇽.

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: https://t.co/5EiQUdy6kg pic.twitter.com/4tr4Oduqlo

— SiriusXM FC 157 ⚽️📻 (@SiriusXMFC) August 13, 2021

When Ochoa was first ruled out due to injury, the manager at the time Freddy Juarez was quoted stating that the decision to rest Ochoa came out of an “abundance of caution.”

Now, roughly a month and a half later, Ochoa is slated to return against an in-form LAFC.

The last fixture between Real Salt Lake and LAFC turned into an Ochoa versus Carlos Vela movie. Ochoa made multiple saves throughout the game denying Vela, he even stopped a Vela penalty midway through the second half. Vela found the back of the net from an impossible angle in the 79th minute when he struck the ball with his left foot into the roof of the net and past Ochoa.

LAFC secured all three points that evening, Vela’s goal being the difference between the two sides.

Last week, Ochoa was named to the Real Salt Lake bench and was seen warming up prior to the fixture. He looks comfortable and healthy. The decision to start Ochoa this weekend would come as no surprise given the continued discussion surrounding his return and his most recent appearance on the Real Salt Lake bench.

Ochoa is listed on the bench tonight after being absent with multiple leg injuries over the past month or so.

Expect him to start in a week’s time when #RSL visits LAFC on Sunday, September 12th. pic.twitter.com/1RgA5PNB8f

— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) September 4, 2021

Next Up

Real Salt Lake travel to Banc of California Stadium for a fixture against LAFC on Sunday, September 12th. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. and will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports & KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.

Currently, Real Salt Lake sits in the 7th position in the Western Conference on 30 points through 22 games. LAFC sits 3 points and 2 spots below Real Salt Lake in 9th position on 27 points through 22 games.

LAFC has beaten Real Salt Lake in two previous encounters this year. This weekend’s fixture marks the final regular-season contest between the two clubs.