Trick or treat: RSL takes playoff push to San Jose on Halloween

SANDY — Real Salt Lake has spent much of the summer frightening its own supporters, but lately it’s been the opposition getting spooked.

Three consecutive victories, four matches unbeaten, and suddenly RSL (12-14-6, 42 points) finds itself ninth in the Western Conference, with an opportunity to secure a playoff berth Saturday afternoon against the San Jose Earthquakes (13-9-10, 49 points).

RSL has also won its last two road matches, most recently overcoming a second-half deficit to defeat Austin FC 2-1 Wednesday night. Saba Lobjanidze equalized almost immediately after Austin took the lead, and Morgan Guilavogui finished a move he started near midfield to secure all three points.

The victory left RSL one point behind seventh-place Colorado and eighth-place Seattle, narrowly ahead of the LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers.

A victory Saturday, coupled with the Galaxy failing to beat Austin and Portland failing to beat Houston, would secure RSL a postseason berth.

But first, there’s the small matter of containing a San Jose side that has already scored 54 goals this season.

Trick or treat? RSL’s attack finds its magic

After struggling to find consistent attacking chemistry for much of the season, RSL’s front three have begun playing some delightful tricks on opposing defenders.

Sergi Solans leads the club with 14 goals, while Guilavogui has five goals and a team-leading 10 assists. Lobjanidze, who arrived during the summer transfer window, has contributed four goals and four assists in just 781 minutes.

The three have developed a knack for combining in tight spaces, stretching back lines and creating opportunities for one another.

“When you start having all these players run off the ball, it creates little spaces and gaps to be able to play intricate passes, and they’re looking for each other,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said after Wednesday’s victory.

But the Halloween treats won’t be coming from Guilavogui on Saturday.

He collected a yellow card against Austin, triggering a one-match suspension and forcing Mastroeni to interrupt an attacking combination that has finally found its rhythm.

Speaking to KSL Sports Friday, Mastroeni said his approach to navigating the congested schedule involves leaning on experience and maintaining the confidence the team has built during its winning streak.

San Jose has a few tricks of its own

The Earthquakes have gone five matches without a victory, drawing four and losing one, but their attacking talent remains a frightening proposition.

Preston Judd leads San Jose with 16 goals, while 21-year-old midfielder Niko Tsakiris has contributed three goals and a team-leading 12 assists.

Tsakiris, ranked eighth in MLS’s 2026 22 Under 22 list, recently returned from an upper-body injury. His 12th assist came Wednesday, when his corner kick found Jack Jasinski for the equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Colorado.

At the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Tsakiris conjured up a devilish free kick against Italy, bending the ball around the wall from roughly 20 yards before it dipped sharply and found the grass just inside the near post.

San Jose has scored eight goals from corner kicks this season, tied for the most in MLS.

“What they do a good job of is picking up pieces, recirculating the ball, and getting it back in the box,” Mastroeni told KSL Sports Friday.

“One thing that we’ve done well is defend our box. The one thing that we’ll need tomorrow is to do it the best that we’ve done so far, especially being away from home.”

The Earthquakes snatched a point when Jasinski scored a stoppage-time equalizer in Utah just 17 days ago.

San Jose has already secured its playoff berth, and a victory Saturday would guarantee a top-six finish.

Another San Jose creator, Timo Werner, is expected to spend Halloween watching from the stands.

Werner has six goals and 10 assists this season, including an assist from a corner kick in Wednesday’s draw. But in the 71st minute, while protesting a questionable foul called against a teammate, Werner indignantly slapped away referee Ramy Touchan’s hand after the official placed it on his forearm. Touchan immediately showed the midfielder a straight red card for violent conduct.

Earthquakes head coach Bruce Arena publicly questioned the dismissal.

“I don’t believe that’s striking a referee. That’s ridiculous. We’ve got to consider appealing that,” Arena told Soccer Bay Area.

Unless the red card is overturned, Werner will be suspended against RSL, leaving both clubs without an attacker who has supplied 10 assists this season.

Justen Glad could return to starting XI

Guilavogui’s suspension gives Mastroeni one lineup headache, but Justen Glad’s potential return to the starting XI offers a much more welcome one. Glad recently returned from a five-month injury absence, appearing as a substitute against St. Louis and Austin.

“He can definitely start the next game,” Mastroeni said Wednesday.

RSL’s defense has improved considerably of late, conceding just five goals in its last six matches while keeping two clean sheets.

Mastroeni believes the team’s improvement has been built through adversity, with players becoming more willing to sacrifice for one another.

“This group is as tight as it’s ever been because when you go through such difficult times, there’s only two ways: You can drop tools and quit, or you can band together and play some good stuff,” he said.

After a season of frightening inconsistency, RSL has finally given its supporters something sweeter to contemplate.

A Halloween victory in San Jose could deliver the biggest treat yet: a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Match information

Who: Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. MT

Where: PayPal Park, San Jose, California

Watch: Apple TV