REAL SALT LAKE EYES PLAYOFF-CLINCHING WIN ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Regular Season Finale at Portland’s Providence Park Will See RSL Advance to the Post-Season with a Win; Salt Lake Can Also Get Through with a Loss or Draw by the LA Galaxy on the Road Against Minnesota United FC; RSL Kicks Off at 3 p.m. MT on Sunday
SANDY, Utah (Saturday, October 20, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (14-12-7, 49 pts., 6th West) aims to clinch a berth in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with a road win on Sunday over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Riding the momentum of a 4-1 win over the New England Revolution in the regular season home finale on Thursday, RSL will see MF Kyle Beckerman and MF Sunny return from suspension and expects to have MF Albert Rusnák, FW Jefferson Savarino and FW Joao Plata – all reserved to substitute roles on Thursday – available to start after late returns from international duty on Wednesday. With a nearly-full complement of players at the ready, Mike Petke’s side will kick off against the Timbers at 3 p.m. MT.
In Thursday’s win over New England, RSL got goals from DF Nick Besler, FW Sebastian Saucedo, FW Corey Baird and MF Damir Kreilach, while GK Nick Rimando made five saves – including one on his 24th career penalty kick save – to earn his 209th career MLS win. RSL finished the home slate with a record of 11-2-4 at home for the best home record in the Western Conference entering the final two weekends of action.
Real Salt Lake is sixth in the Western Conference playoff race with just one match remaining on the season. Salt Lake is currently four points ahead of the LA Galaxy in the West for the final playoff spot as RSL vies for a return to the postseason. A win for RSL will clinch a playoff berth, as will anything but a win for the Galaxy in either of its final two matches on Sunday on the road against Minnesota United FC or at home against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, October 28.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers – Sun., Oct. 21, 2018
- Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. MT
- Local TV: KMYU w/ David James & Jay Nolly, w/ Samantha Yarock
- Digital Streaming: KSL 5 TV app or KSL.com
- English Radio: ESPN 700 (6:00 p.m. MT) – Bill Riley, w/ Spencer Warne & Tom Hackett (pre-/post-game)
- Spanish Radio: 104.7 /107.1 FM – Fernando Hortal, German Hortal & Carlos Artiles
Game Notes for Saturday’s RSL v Portland Timbers Game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers is available HERE.
