Real Salt Lake have a familiar passing route from their compact shape into the forwards. Charlotte bring a functioning scorer-supplier relationship to a Portland attack still seeking better final actions. In both games, recent connections provide a clearer guide than the headline results.
Sanabria and Caliskan have combined to reach Guilavogui, who can also supply Solans. St. Louis's midfield and wide players face another pressing-and-recovery task after extensive cup-final minutes. Burki is now out after leaving that final, but Lundt's successful replacement spell supplies no basis for calling him a weakness; RSL's core absences were already accommodated in their recent XI. I expect RSL's familiar combinations to become particularly useful as the match develops. That's why I'm siding with Real Salt Lake, with a level result returning that part of the selection.
Charlotte's Toklomati supplied Aloko and finished Schnegg's cross in the previous match, giving them distinct ways to complete an attack. Portland's latest possession and substitutions produced little second-half chance quality. Bronico did not play in Charlotte's last match, so his absence leaves the starting midfield intact, while the existing attacking route does not require an Abada start. I expect Charlotte to find useful forward moments as Portland commit players in search of a winner. That's why I'm siding with Charlotte to avoid defeat.
