Real Salt Lake Must Start Winning Now

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake is running out of time to solidify a playoff position. With just two games remaining, the club will need to win both games.

As it stands, Real Salt Lake is one spot from making the playoffs. They have picked up 43 points and sit two points behind seventh-placed Minnesota United.

Playoffs Still Attainable

However, multiple scenarios still exist where Real Salt Lake can qualify for the playoffs. The highest seed still attainable is the fourth seed.

Firstly, for RSL to conclude in the fourth seed they would need to win both games remaining against LA Galaxy on the road before hosting Portland Timbers on Decision Day, both opponents currently sit above RSL on the standings.

Assuming RSL wins both games remaining, they would require Nashville to lose both of its remaining games against Houston (at home) and LAFC (on the road), while also relying on Portland to lose to LAFC at home this upcoming weekend. Minnesota United would need to lose one of their two games left against San Jose and Vancouver. The Galaxy must lose their final game of the season on the road against Houston.

The odds that RSL can climb into the fourth seed are slim. But not impossible.

We gotta win 2 games … which starts with #RSL winning at Galaxy …

(A tie would keep us alive depending on other results involving POR / MIN, but we could also be eliminated with a tie too)#DaleReal #BELIEVE https://t.co/POQ6q36vV3

— Trey Fitz-Gerald (@3FitzSLC) September 25, 2022

The more likely scenario where RSL qualifies would be if they draw against LA this weekend before beating Portland at home, adding four points to their tally of 43 to conclude the season on 47.

By no means does 47 points suggest that RSL is going to qualify for the postseason. Minnesota (45), Portland (46), Galaxy (46), and Nashville (47), would only need to win one of their final two games for RSL to end on 47 points and miss the postseason.

Kreilach, Wood Injury Update

The status of key players will also make a difficult task harder as captain Damir Kreilach and striker Bobby Wood remain injured and sidelined. Following the most recent MLS fixture against Cincinnati, manager Pablo Mastroeni confirmed that the likelihood of Kreilach and/or Wood returning following the international break is unlikely.

“No,” Mastroeni said when asked.

TieBreaker

If RSL is tied on points with another team at the conclusion of the season, the team with the most wins will conclude ahead of the other. If teams are tied in the wins category, then goal differential will determine the higher seed and in the rare result that both teams are also tied on goal differential then goal for (per match) will be the deciding factor.

RSL vs. LA Galaxy Match Info

Real Salt Lake will travel to Los Angeles for an 8:30 p.m. kickoff on October 1st from Dignity Health Sports Park.

The game will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports and KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.