RSL notes: Kreis says RSL has more than 3 all-stars

Sandy • A day after three of his players were named to the MLS All-Star team, Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis had some mixed feelings.

"To see those three guys go, you're kind of left scratching your head about some of the others that could have gone," he said.

Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman and Tony Beltran were selected by Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes to play in the July 31 match against AS Roma. But Kreis said he thought two of his midfielders could have just as easily been selected.

Ned Grabavoy has enjoyed a break-out season, scoring four goals for RSL. Javier Morales, meanwhile, leads the team in goals (five) and assists (eight).

"You feel good for the three, you feel a little sad for the other two, and then I hope that none of them play," said Kreis, who has seen one of his players injured in an All-Star Game before.

With Beltran, Rimando and Beckerman all playing for the U.S. in the Gold Cup, Kreis said he hoped to at least have a conversation with Vermes about whether to play any of the trio coming off the back of the month-long tournament.

Pain in the gut

Center back Carlos Salcedo woke up in the middle of the night with an intense pain in his abdomen following Saturday's game at FC Dallas.

The 19-year-old was taken to a hospital for gall bladder surgery, and team officials say he could miss about a week while he recovers.

"It speaks a little to Carlos because he told me the next morning that he had actually had a lot of pain during the game in his abdomen," Kreis said.

With Salcedo out, RSL could be down to just two players at the position, though Chris Wingert did get time in the middle during a reserve match Tuesday. "It seems a little bit unlucky to be a center back on our team at the moment," Kreis said.

Signing bonus

Fresh off signing a contract with RSL, forward Benji Lopez made a nice first impression with fans.

The RSL academy graduate scored a goal to bring his team level with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Tuesday's reserve match, slamming home a deflected ball. Chilean trialist Jean Paul Pineda went on to score the game-winner as RSL beat the Whitecaps 3-2.

afalk@sltrib.com

Twitter: @aaronfalk —

RSL vs. Sporting KC

Saturday, 8 p.m.

At Rio Tinto Stadium

TV: CW30