Real Salt Lake may have the weekend off, but there are still plenty of meaningful MLS games that impact RSL’s playoff hopes.
Here is a look at who to watch this weekend, when it kicks off and why it’s important.
First: The standings
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 15-10-6, 51 points
Portland Timbers – 13-11-8, 47 points
Sporting Kansas City – 12-7-11, 47 points
Seattle Sounders FC - 12-9-11, 47 points
Houston Dynamo – 11-10-10, 43 points
Real Salt Lake – 12-14-6, 42 points
San Jose Earthquakes – 12-14-6, 42 points
FC Dallas – 10-9-12, 42 points
Saturday
3:00 p.m. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at New York Red Bulls
Vancouver is the only Western Conference team to have a playoff berth wrapped up. Leading the West with 51 points, the ‘Caps are 6-1-2 in the last nine matches and square off with a Red Bulls side that has not seen the win column since August 12, going winless in the last eight matches. Vancouver is looking more and more like it will finish with the top seed in the West.
6:00 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Minnesota United
Minnesota is suddenly in form with wins in three of the last four matches, including a road win against Atlanta on Tuesday. Sporting KC, meanwhile, is coming off of a home loss to Vancouver last Saturday and will be playing without Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber, who are away with the U.S. National Team, along with Soony Saad (Lebanon), Soni Mustivar (Haiti), James Musa (New Zealand) and Kevin Oliveira (Cape Verde). It is unlikely that RSL can catch Sporting in the standings, but the implications of that last match at Rio Tinto Stadium between the two clubs can change depending on KC’s results.
7:00 p.m. FC Dallas at Colorado Rapids
Get an early look at Real Salt Lake’s next opponents as Colorado hosts Dallas. RSL faces the Rapids on October 15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. After going winless for nine straight matches, Colorado is 2-2-1 in the last five matches. While eliminated from the postseason, the Rapids are intent on playing the spoilers. Dallas, meanwhile, needed help from an administrative error by the referees to earn a draw against Orlando last week and still has just one win since July 22.
