We are down to just five matches left in the MLS regular season for Real Salt Lake and after a two-game week, there was a major shift in the makeup of the Western Conference standings that saw three teams change positions out of the top four as things become even murkier as the MLS Cup Playoffs near.
Here is a look at how the postseason would shake out if the season ended today.
Real Salt Lake (12-9-8, 44 points) fell from a second-place tie to fourth in the West after going 0-1-1 this week. Now behind FC Dallas (15-8-6, 51 points), the LA Galaxy (11-4-14, 47 points) and the Colorado Rapids (12-5-10, 46 points), Salt Lake would still host a playoff match, but now that will be the Knockout Round. RSL would hold home-field advantage over fifth-seeded Sporting Kansas City (11-12-6, 39 points), while the Rapids would host the Portland Timbers (10-11-8, 38 points). Depending on the winners in those matches, if RSL advances it would either host the Galaxy or FC Dallas in first leg of the Conference Semifinals.
The Vancouver Whitecaps (9-13-7, 34 points), San Jose Earthquakes (7-8-12, 33 points) and Seattle Sounders (9-13-5, 32 points) are all within striking distance of a playoff position with San Jose and Seattle both having two games in hand on Kansas City, Portland and Vancouver.
This week’s Western Conference matchups include:
Saturday
Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (2 p.m. MT, MLS Live)
Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union (4 p.m. MT, MLS Live)
New York City FC vs. FC Dallas (5 p.m. MT, MLS Live)
Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes (7 p.m. MT, MLS Live)
Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo (7:30 p.m. MT, KMYU)
Sunday
Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy (12 p.m. MT, FOX)
