Real Salt Lake looking to clinch playoff berth on Sunday
With a win on Sunday at Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake will be able to clinch a seventh-straight playoff berth – the longest active streak in the league. A win in Southern California would also place the Claret-and-Cobalt one victory away from reaching the 15-win and 50-point plateaus for the fifth consecutive season.
Seattle Sounders FC (18-9-3, 57 points) and LA Galaxy (16-5-9, 57 points) have both clinched playoff berths, leaving just three open spots in the postseason. RSL currently sits third in the west with 49 points, with FC Dallas close behind with 48 and one more win than the Claret-and-Cobalt. Vancouver Whitecaps FC occupies the final playoff spot with 40 points, but also has Portland Timbers nipping at its heels with 39 points.
The Western Conference playoff picture can get either clearer or murkier after this weekend, with Vancouver hosting FC Dallas and Portland travelling to San Jose on Saturday, before RSL takes on Chivas USA on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. MT on CW30.
Can the Claret-and-Cobalt restore its road dominance over Chivas?
Real Salt Lake will look to restore its road dominance of Chivas USA on Sunday after falling to the SoCal club at StubHub Center in their first meeting of the year for the first time since 2009. Prior to the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 1-0 loss on June 28, RSL had five consecutive wins over the Red-and-White in California. Real Salt Lake is 12-11-4 against Chivas USA all-time in the regular season with a 6-8-1 regular season road record.
Chivas USA struggled mightily this year and is currently on a seven-game losing streak, with its last result coming on Aug. 16, a scoreless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Goats have only notched four goals (all v. Seattle) since that Vancouver contest.
What will RSL’s lineup look like on Sunday?
In RSL’s last match, a 2-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar made five lineup changes from its previous match against Colorado, a 5-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando, defenders Tony Beltran and Chris Schuler, midfielder Ned Grabavoy and forward Sebastian Jaime were not included in the starting XI, with only Grabavoy and Jaime making the trip to Canada. RSL defenders Carlos Salcedo and Abdoulie Mansally filled in on the back line, while veteran center back Nat Borchers returned from suspension. RSL midfielder Luis Gil started at the left side of the diamond while striker Alvaro Saborio earned his first start back from injury up top. With RSL deciding to rest some of its regular starters in Vancouver, Cassar should have a full arsenal of healthy players to choose from for Sunday.
Real Salt Lake also produced a strong performance out a makeshift lineup in Tuesday’s friendly against Sacramento Republic FC. Both forward Robbie Findley and midfielder Sebastian Velasquez netted goals, while defender Rich Balchan put in an excellent showing at right back, earning the assist on Velasquez’s tally.
Real Salt Lake coaches and players have been vocal this week about that fact that lowly Chivas USA shouldn’t be taken lightly. Cassar will hopefully be able to put out what he thinks is RSL’s most dangerous lineup for a much needed, playoff clinching win.
Will Sunday be RSL’s last match at Chivas USA?
Recent reports have surfaced that Chivas USA will be shut down at the end of the 2014 season and will be up for sale. It is expected that the club will remain closed for two years while it takes the time to find new owners and fully rebrand. The club has struggled in recent years, which will now miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season with a current 6-18-6 record.
Real Salt Lake’s date in Carson on Sunday could be the last time the Claret-and-Cobalt square off with its fellow 2005 expansion team in California. RSL will face the Red-and-White one more time in its last game of the 2014 season on Oct. 22 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
