Over the next few seasons when RSL Coach Jason Kreis is looking to motivate players to strive to win in the middle of the season all he has to do is say – 2013. When this season is over and the players are thinking through some of the draws and losses that shouldn’t have been, goals allowed late in the match that changed the result, it will either be gentle motivation or a sinking feeling in the gut of a missed chance for greatness. So with that in mind it seems appropriate to have an objective look at where RSL stands.
This season has seen perhaps the best showing ever for MLS, but especially in the Western Conference. Here we are with 2 games to play across the map and NO TEAM in the West has clinched a play-off berth. A month ago it looked like Seattle was set to run away with everything. They were behind conference leading RSL by only 2 points but they had 4 games in hand. On paper they could have scored 70+ points. Since then however the wheels have come off for Seattle. They haven’t won since they beat RSL on Sept 13th and they have 3 losses and 2 draws in the last 5 matches. This has left New York Red Bulls at the top of the Supporters’ Shield race and has let the Portland Timbers work their way into first place in the West.
The RSL vs Portland rivalry is real and growing stronger. These two teams have played each other 3 times this season across all competitions. In regular season play RSL got the draw at JELD-Wen Field with some stoppage time heroics and a few weeks later RSL won a 4-2 victory at home. REAL also won the matchup against Portland in the U.S. Open Cup semi-final that was also played at Rio Tinto Stadium. Coach Kreis told MLSsoccer.com “This is what starts rivalries. Really stressful matches that mean something.” It also helps that a much beloved Will Johnson was traded from RSL to Portland this past off-season.Johnson has shined for a much improved Timbers club. This is definitely a growing rivalry that is good for both clubs.
A win on Saturday at Portland’s JELD-WEN Field and a win against Chivas USA on Oct 23rd at Rio Tinto Stadium would win the Western Conference for the Claret-and-Cobalt. No team can catch them if they win both.It would take the team to 58 points for the season which would be a club record (57 in 2012 is the current record). More importantly it would be a home field advantage for the play-offs. The LA Galaxy win in the Wednesday make-up game with Montreal positions LA at 51 points with third place.
Supporters’ Shield race is a harder nut to crack. Right now New York Red Bulls and Portand each have 53 points but NYRB have the tie breaker with 15 wins to Portland’s 13 wins. Portland is the only top 5 team with less than 15 wins but they have 14 draws (only 5 losses) and all those extra points add up. REAL Salt Lake is in third place with 52 points and 15 wins. Sporting Kansas City sits in fourth with 52 points and 15 wins. LA Galaxy has climbed to 5th place with 51 pts and 15 wins. Seattle has slipped to 6th with 51 points and 15 wins – which is incredible if you consider they scored only 2 points in the last 5 matches. The level of parity with the top 10 teams is quite astounding. You have to reach the 12th place Philadelphia Union to find a team with less than 13 wins. The 7th through 11th place all have 13 wins.
If RSL can win their matches and reach 58 points they only need to worry about New York who could reach 59 pts. They literally control their own fate. New York RB must travel to Houston to play the third place Dynamo. Red Bulls have struggled to score on the road and EVERY Real Salt Lake fan will be rooting for Houston. They then play the Chicago Fire at home. The Fire are on the cusp of the play-offs and should have a lot to play for in that match.
Clearly the best path for RSL to rejoin the CONCACAF Champions League is to win both their remaining matches. They need NYRB to lose or draw just one of their matches. Ironically it was the Red Bulls who traded allocation money for RSL veterans Fabian Espindola and Jamison Olave in the off-season. Both were part of RSL’s 2009 Championship campaign and have played extensively for New York this season.
It is time for REAL Salt Lake fans to get out the #RSLBelieve hashtag and help push their team to a Supporters’ Shield, a ticket to the CONCACAF Champions League and Western Conference Champions.
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