Real Salt Lake 4 vs. New England Revolution 1
October 18, 2018; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (14-12-7, 49 points); New England Revolution (9-13-11, 38 points)
Man of the Match: Corey Baird not only notched a goal and an assist while starting on the right wing. He also led RSL with four chances created and was a constant threat up the right side, wreaking havoc on the New England defense while Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata and Jefferson Savarino rested on the bench after flying from Europe on Wednesday following international duty. Honorable mention also goes to Damir Kreilach (1 G, 2 A), Sebastian Saucedo (1 G, 1 A, 6 tackles) and a slew of defensive players that stymied the Revs attack.
Telling Stat: Teal Bunbury added his name to an illustrious list of players who have had a penalty saved by Nick Rimando in his record-breaking MLS career. That list grew to 24 on Thursday with Rimando’s 35th minute save and Bunbury joins the likes of Carlos Valderrama, Jaime Moreno, Mamadou Diallo, Ante Razov, Clint Mathis, Landon Donovan, Brad Davis (twice), Jeff Cunningham, Robbie Keane, Stevan Gerrard, Sebastian Giovinco (twice) and Clint Dempsey, among others. The GOAT, indeed.
What You Missed: Prior to the match, Kyle Beckerman was presented the 2018 Jordan Guernsey Humanitarian of the Year for his efforts in the Salt Lake community. For more on his award, click here.
So What: Real Salt Lake is now four points clear of the LA Galaxy for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. RSL plays its final match of the season on Sunday and can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Meanwhile if the Galaxy drops points in either their match on Sunday on the road against Minnesota United or on October 28 at home against the Houston Dynamo, RSL will earn a spot in the postseason as well, regardless of the result in Portland. With Rusnák, Plata, Savarino, Beckerman and Sunny all available for Sunday’s showdown with the Timbers, Head Coach Mike Petke will have plenty of weapons in his arsenal for the crucial matchup.
