Real Salt Lake will face LAFC in the Knockout Round of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday, November 1. The high-stakes match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. MT and will be televised nationally on ESPN 2 and UniMas.
Here is what you need to know about our opponent, LAFC.
On October 30, 2014, the MLS announced an expansion team in Los Angeles, and established LAFC. The club hired head coach Bob Bradley, who previously coached the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2006-2011, and the Egyptian National Team from 2011-2014. Bradley also coached the Chicago Fire from 1998-2002.
In LAFC’s first season campaign, the team finished the regular season with 57 points and a 16-9-9 overall record, and 9-1-7 home record, the best regular season for an expansion team in MLS history. The previous record was set by Bob Bradley and the Chicago Fire in 1998 with 56 points.
LAFC players to watch:
- FW Carlos Vela, the top scorer and assist man for LAFC with 14 goals and 13 assists.
- GK Tyler Miller, 114 saves and 10 shutouts during the regular season.
LAFC sat at the top of the Western Conference until a 2-1 defeat against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday’s Decision Day. LAFC dropped to third in the Western Conference after the result, pitting them against RSL for the third time on Thursday.
On March 10, RSL faced LAFC for the first time, at Rio Tinto Stadium in RSL’s 2018 home opener. With a sold-out crowd of 20,706 on hand, RSL had a positive start, as Joao Plata scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute. Shortly after, LAFC equalized in the 30th minute and added another in the 33rd minute and went into halftime leading RSL, 2-1. LAFC scored three more goals in the second half and won 5-1 for RSL’s first loss in a home opener in club history.
On August 15, RSL played LAFC for the second time at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. RSL fell again. This time by a 2-0 tally.
Both teams survived the grueling 34 match MLS regular season and will start the postseason with a clean slate on Thursday.
If you are not traveling to LA for the match, join us Thursday for an official watch party at Beer Bar, located on 161 East 200 South SLC, Utah 84111. There will be a t-shirt, merchandise, and tickets give-a-ways starting at 8:00 p.m.
