MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Update

Published on October 21, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


Real Salt Lake (15-10-8, West #2) will finish off the 2013 MLS regular season on Wednesday, hosting Chivas USA (6-18-8, West #9) in its home finale at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Wednesday's match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. CW30 will air the 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately after the match; ESPN700 will air an hour-long pregame show before the game and will broadcast an hour-long postgame following the contest.

Real Salt Lake officially clinched its sixth-consecutive MLS Cup Playoff berth with its 0-0 draw against Portland Timbers on Saturday. The Claret-and-Cobalt's six-year run of postseason qualification is the longest active streak in the league and tied for the second-longest such streak in MLS history with the New York Red Bulls (2003-2008), trailing only the New England Revolution's eight-year run (2002-2009). Three other Western Conference teams clinched postseason berths this weekend, with Portland, Seattle Sounders FC and LA Galaxy guaranteeing their places in the playoffs.

Wednesday's matchup between RSL and Chivas USA holds big implications as to where the Claret-and-Cobalt will finish in the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield race. Currently sitting in second-place in the Western Conference, RSL has the opportunity to secure a top-two position with a win against the Goats and clinch at least third-place with a draw.

In the Supporters' Shield race, RSL is currently in fourth-place with a total of 53 points. The New York Red Bulls lead the Shield race with 56 points, followed by Sporting Kansas City with 55 points and Portland Timbers with 54 points. The Claret-and-Cobalt will need a win on Wednesday in order to maintain a chance to win the Shield.

Wednesday's contest will be the third and final meeting between the two sides this year. Real Salt Lake has been dominant against the Southern California side, posting a 2-0-0 record this season. The Claret-and-Cobalt recorded a 1-0 win at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 20 and crushed the Goats 4-1 at the Home Depot Center (now StubHub center) on May 19. RSL is 11-10-4 in regular season play against Chivas USA since both teams' inaugural season of 2005.

A limited amount of tickets are still available for Wednesday's RSL-Chivas USA contest and can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

REAL SALT LAKE BATTLE TO A 0-0 DRAW WITH PORTLAND TIMBERS AT JELD-WEN FIELD

Real Salt Lake clinched its sixth-straight MLS Cup Playoff berth on Saturday night, tying the Portland Timbers 0-0 at JELD-WEN Field to lock up a spot in the postseason.

While it ended scoreless, Saturday's match was an up-and-down affair, with both teams playing high-quality soccer in front of a raucous Portland crowd. RSL GK Nick Rimando came up huge throughout, making several tremendous saves to help the Claret-and-Cobalt earn a point.

Rimando made his first huge save in the 65th minute. RSL DF Chris Wingert and Valencia collided on the left side, clearing room for Timbers DF Jack Jewsbury to collect a ball and carry into space. Jewsbury quickly whipped a low cross into the middle, with the ball deflecting off of several players at the top of the six before falling to an open Alhassan on the right side. Rimando stoned Alhassan's ensuing eight-yard shot, reaching behind his body to paw the ball away from the goal line and preserve the shutout.

Rimando came up big again in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Former RSL MF and current Timbers Captain Will Johnson laced a 20-yard free kick on goal, forcing Rimando into a brilliant reaction save. Rimando's work wasn't done with Johnson's effort, however, with the veteran "˜keeper using his cat-like reflexes to swat away a Portland player's follow-up header.

Saturday's result keeps Real Salt Lake in second-place in the Western Conference, one point behind Portland in the Conference table. The Claret-and-Cobalt and the Timbers will both play Chivas USA in their final match, with RSL hosting the Southern California side at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday and Portland traveling to take on the Goats at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.

FIVE RSL-AZ ACADEMY GRADS RANKED IN TOP 100 FRESHMAN BY TOP DRAWER SOCCER

Top Drawer Soccer released their Men's Freshman Top 100 list last Friday and five Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy graduates were on the list, with two players ranked in the top 10.

Jordan Allen, who has started in every Virginia match this season, is the highest ranked RSL-AZ graduate at No. 3. Allen's two goals and four assists have been instrumental for the Cavaliers this season, as they are currently on an eight-match unbeaten streak and ranked #19 in the latest NCAA Coaches poll.

In Allen's first match this season, fellow RSL-AZ graduate Andrew Brody, who is ranked No. 8 by Top Drawer, and his Louisville Cardinals defeated the Cavaliers 1-2. Brody's play on the wing for the Cardinals has contributed to six assists. He has also scored two goals for Louisville, who are unbeaten in conference play and ranked No. 7 nationally.

Coco Navarro is the third-highest ranked RSL-AZ graduate at No. 31. The Marquette forward has scored two goals while adding five assists. Riggs Lennon's four goals and one assist for Virginia has placed him at No. 37.

Rounding out the graduates is Ive Burnett, who is ranked No. 97. Burnett has been one of South Carolina's better defenders this year and has scored one goal.

Combined, 17 RSL-AZ 2013 graduates have played in 140 college matches while scoring 13 goals and adding 23 assists.

REAL SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT

OUT: GK Josh Saunders (L ACL reconstruction), DF Kwame Watson-Siriboe (R ACL reconstruction), DF Brandon McDonald (L hamstring strain)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Benji Lopez (L ankle sprain), DF Chris Schuler (R achilles strain)

Check out the Real Salt Lake Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 21, 2013


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