MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Weekly Update

Published on October 15, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


RSL Hopes Win vs. "Hoops" in Saturday's Home Finale can Catapult Squad to Playoffs

After working out the kinks at Rio Tinto Stadium last Thursday via a 1-1 draw against New York, Real Salt Lake (9-10-9, 36 pts.) will close out the home portion of its 2008 regular season schedule this Saturday, October 18, against FC Dallas (8-9-11, 35 pts.) in a pivotal contest that can make or break - or simply maintain - postseason hopes for both sides. Kick-off at RSL's new Sandy home is set for 7:00 p.m. MT, with gates at Rio Tinto Stadium and the Carnival Real pre-game festival on the stadium's east side both opening at 5:00 p.m. MT.

Tickets for the contest are still available and can be purchased online at www.RioTintoStadium.com, over the phone by calling 801-924-8585, or in person at the Rio Tinto Stadium east-side Box Office (9256 S. State St.) and RSL Front Office (515 S. 700 East, Suite #2R in the Trolley Corners building) from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Single-game tickets remain available for $15 (Upper Deck), $18 (North Goal), $25 (Corner Flag), $30 (Lower Sideline), and $60 (VIP), with discounts in each section available for group purchases of 20 seats or more. A limited number of premium seats are also available for $75 (Sideline Club), $100 (Club) and $125 (Center Circle).

With head-to-head record serving as the first tiebreaker for postseason qualification, Saturday's contest between Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas could prove to be for more than just playoff positioning after the two sides traded 2-1 home victories in May. Real Salt Lake took the lead in the series on May 10 at Rice-Eccles Stadium thanks to goals from "The Kyle and Javi Show" - midfielders Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales - that sandwiched a tally by Dallas striker Kenny Cooper. FC Dallas would exact revenge two weeks later at Pizza Hut Park in dramatic fashion, as substitute FW Dominic Oduro tallied twice for the Hoops in the final 10 minutes, turning what looked to be a rare road win for RSL into a 2-1 defeat. Real Salt Lake trails the all-time series against Dallas 3-9-1, but all of RSL's point-gaining efforts have come on the Wasatch Front after posting a 3-3-1 mark in seven meetings at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Chase for the Cup Update: With Win and Help, RSL Can Clinch First Playoff Berth this Weekend

Despite only earning a point from a 1-1 draw with New York last week, the remainder of the Week 29 results around MLS fell RSL's way, keeping the squad in third-place in the Western Conference standings and in control of its own destiny for a first-ever postseason berth with just two games remaining - contests that happen to be against RSL's closest pursuers, FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids.

With a win over the "Hoops" this Saturday, Real Salt Lake would clinch its first-ever postseason berth on Sunday should the archrival Rapids either lose or tie against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in Southern California. If both Real Salt Lake and Colorado take care of business with three points this weekend, then RSL would only need to draw the Rapids in the regular season finale between the Rocky Mountain Cup rivals at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 25. Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire clinched the fourth and fifth postseason slots this past weekend, but a historic race for the final three spots - the West's #3 seed and the two "Wild Card" positions - continues, as all nine teams on the outside looking in are still eligible to qualify for the postseason heading into this week's slate of eight League contests, which begins tonight with a Western Conference tilt between Houston and San Jose.

2008 MLS Cup Playoff Race

If the season ended today, the teams shown in bold below would qualify for the playoffs. Their current points (in parentheses), and games remaining [in brackets] are as follow:

Eastern Conference: Western Conference:

1. Columbus (54) [2] ** 1. Houston (44) [3] *

2. Chicago (43) [2] *% 2. Chivas USA (42) [2] *^

3. New England (43) [2] * 3. Real Salt Lake (36) [2]

4. Kansas City (36) [2] # - Wild Card East 4. FC Dallas (35) [2]

5. New York (36) [2] & - Wild Card West 5. Colorado (34) [2]

6. D.C. United (34) [2] 6. LA Galaxy (32) [2]

7. Toronto FC (32) [2] 7. San Jose (30) [3]

* Clinched playoff berth

** Clinched home field advantage

% CHI holds tie-breaker over NE (head-to-head)

# KC holds tie-breaker over NY (head-to-head)

& As the fifth eligible team from the East, NY would become the #4 seed in the West

^ CHV guaranteed at least #2 seed in West (holds head-to-head tie-breaker over RSL)

RSL Clinching Scenarios for this Weekend:

1) A win v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- a Colorado loss or draw @ Chivas USA on Sunday [RSL clinches West's #3 seed because no other team in West could reach 39 points except San Jose (RSL wins head-to-head tie-breaker over SJ)]

2) A draw v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 (RSL clinches West's #3 seed because no other team in West could reach 40 points)

*** RSL could also clinch a berth with a loss v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 and an FC Dallas loss @ LA Galaxy on 10/26 [RSL clinches West's #3 seed on final day (RSL-39, FCD-38, COL-could finish no higher than 37)] OR

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 and either a loss and tie or two losses by NY or KC and any point lost by DC across those three teams' last two contests (RSL would secure a Wild Card spot on 39 points)

Check out www.RioTintoStadium.com for Information Leading up to Saturday's Contest

While a sellout crowd of 20,008 fans packed Rio Tinto Stadium for last Thursday's historic opening night in Sandy, we're sure there are still questions to be answered before Round Two in Sandy this Saturday night against FC Dallas. While nobody ever has all the answers, there is a website - www.RioTintoStadium - that can answer most any issue in advance of Saturday's home regular season finale. Information on ticketing, parking, public transportation, concessions, prohibited items and much, much more are available on the new website, but if you can't find an answer to your questions online, please feel free to contact the RSL Front Office at 801-924-8585 to get information on any and all issues leading up to the contest.

RSL Reserves in SoCal for Make-up Contest v. LA Galaxy Reserves

It's a pivotal week on all fronts for Real Salt Lake, as, in addition to seeking its first-ever playoff berth, the Utah side is looking to stay in the hunt for the 2008 MLS Reserve Division crown. Today will either make or break the RSL Reserves (6-2-1, 19 pts.) in that regard, as they are at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for a make-up contest against the LA Galaxy Reserves (1-5-2, 8 pts.) in a contest that kicked off at 11:00 a.m. MT. Real Salt Lake currently stands in third-place behind the reserve squads of the Kansas City Wizards (7-1-2, 23 pts.) and Houston Dynamo (7-1-1, 22 pts.) in the division's single-table standings, but wins at Los Angeles today and Colorado on October 26, to close out the season would keep RSL mathematically alive in its search for a first MLS Reserve Division title.

RSL GK Chris Seitz to Appear Thursday at Utah Education Association Convention in Sandy

Real Salt Lake is proud to announce that GK Chris Seitz will represent Utah's MLS team at the annual Utah Education Association's Convention and Education Exposition, taking place at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy this Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, Seitz will help the UEA kick off its "Celebrate Reading Across America" literacy program by sharing his favorite books and reading to children grades K-6 from 1:30-2:00 p.m. at the Reading Nook in Exhibit Hall #3. For more information on this event, please contact RSL Community Relations Manager Teresa Nelson at tnelson@RealSaltLake.com or 801-924-8565.

Real Sports Update: All T-Shirts 25% off for Saturday's Affair at Rio Tinto Stadium

This Saturday's forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's, which means it will be the perfect day to take advantage of the Real Salt Lake Merchandise Department's Item of the Week special out at Rio Tinto Stadium - 25% off all RSL/adidas short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts. Early arriving fans can visit the RSL Merchandise stand in the Carnival Real pre-game festival area on the east side of Rio Tinto Stadium from 5:00-7:00 p.m., while once inside the gates supporters can gear up at the Real Sports kiosks located on the north and east concourses. To see the full selection of T-shirts available in the Item of the Week special deal, visit RSL's official team blog, Behind the Shield, at www.RSLtotheCore.com.

Tickets for Nov. 8 USA Rugby Doubleheader at Rio Tinto Stadium Now on Sale

Real Salt Lake has announced that Rio Tinto Stadium, the state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue in Sandy, Utah, will host a USA Rugby doubleheader featuring teams from New Zealand, Uruguay and the United States on Saturday, November 8. The day of rugby kicks off at 1:15 p.m. MT with the U.S. Select XV Team versus New Zealand Heartland. The main event, which will boast the United States and Uruguay National Teams, will kick off at 4:00 p.m. MT. Tickets to the USA Rugby doubleheader are now on sale to the public and begin at $15 (end zone seating); other categories are $25 (lower sideline), $40 (VIP) and $75 (premium). Please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/usa_doubleheader for more information on the matches. For more information on Rio Tinto Stadium or for ticket information, please visit www.RioTintoStadium.com or call 801-924-8585.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 15, 2008


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