Real Salt Lake Clinches Playoff Berth With Win Over Houston
Sep 29, 2019, 8:33 PM
(Photo courtesy of Real Salt Lake)
(Photo courtesy of Real Salt Lake)
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake knocked off the Houston Dynamo 2-1 in their final home match of the regular season and with the victory, have clinched a spot in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
It’s their second straight playoff appearance and third in the last four seasons.
RSL got off to a very fast start as Corey Baird scored the first goal of the match just 35 seconds after the game started.
Playoff spot clinched! pic.twitter.com/GWikcrff1A
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 30, 2019
It’s the fastest goal scored at Rio Tinto Stadium and the second fastest in club history.
Baird slipped past defender and slotted the ball on the right side of the goal past the keeper.
Later in the first half, Tomas Martinez leveled the match for Houston in the 32nd minute. The Dynamo had two other opportunities to score but were both called off due to the player be offside.
In the 75th minute, Jefferson Savarino controlled the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and blasted it with his right foot to the far post and into the back of the net to give RSL the lead. It was his 8th goal this season and 21st of his career.
Real Salt Lake has one game remaining in the MLS regular season as they will travel to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on “Decision Day.” The match will be on Sunday, October 6 at 2 p.m. on sports.ksl.com or the KSL TV app.
The Claret and Cobalt will now try and fight for home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, just one point behind the Los Angeles Galaxy for fourth place and four points ahead of the Portland Timbers.
In order to get home field advantage in the first round, RSL must finish in second, third or fourth in the west.
