Real Salt Lake advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a 3-2 win over LAFC on Thursday, sending RSL to a meeting with rival Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Salt Lake’s last playoff win came in 2013 and the club hasn’t played a home playoff game since 2014. Now after a one-year hiatus, RSL is well entrenched in the postseason for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons.
Here is RSL’s previous playoff history:
2008
RSL made their MLS Cup Playoff debut in the opening year of Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL finished the regular season 10-10-10 and clinched a playoff spot after a huge win over the Colorado Rapids in the final game of regular season. RSL dominated the conference semifinal against Chivas USA and advanced to the conference finals where they would face the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls won the conference final 1-0, eliminating RSL.
2009
RSL finished the regular season with a losing record at 11-12-7, but managed to still advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive year. RSL hosted the defending 2008 MLS Cup champs, the Columbus Crew, in the Eastern Conference bracket. RSL defeated the Columbus Crew 4-2 and moved to the next opponent, the Chicago Fire, in the Eastern Conference Final.
The match was scoreless at the end of regulation and a shootout would determine the winning team. GK Nick Rimando played a crucial role and stopped three penalty kicks in a row and RSL was sent to the MLS Cup Final after a 5-4 win in penalty kicks against the Chicago Fire.
In 2009, RSL faced the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. LA Galaxy was the favorite with big name stars such as David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The game was tied 1-1 after the final whistle. RSL was tested again in a penalty shootout.
GK Nick Rimando made two vital saves in the shootout. In the seventh round, Landon Donovan missed a shot, and after Robbie Russell converted his attempt, RSL claimed their first MLS Cup.
2010
RSL concluded a winning regular season with a 15-4-11 record, but lost to FC Dallas in the knockout round of the playoffs.
2011
RSL finished the regular season 15-11-8 and made the postseason. RSL defeated the Seattle Sounders in the conference semifinal. The team advanced and fell 3-1 to the LA Galaxy in the conference final.
2012
RSL went into playoffs as the number two seed in the Western Conference, but was eliminated after a draw and loss to the Seattle Sounders in the conference semifinal.
2013
RSL defeated the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinal 2-1. The team advanced and conquered the Portland Timbers in both matches of the Conference Final series.
RSL played in the MLS Cup Final against Sporting Kansas City, at Sporting Park (now called Children’s Mercy Park). This was the second time in league history that the match was not held at a neutral venue.
It was an even match throughout the game. The first half was scoreless. Both teams scored in the second half. At the end of regulation, the match finished in a 1-1 draw.
The match rolled over to overtime and was still tied after the final whistle. A shootout would determine the 2013 MLS Cup Champions. In the end, RSL fell to Kansas City in the 10th round of penalty kicks.
2014
RSL tied the LA Galaxy in the first game of the Western Conference semifinal and then fell 5-0 to the LA Galaxy in the second match. Thus, RSL was knocked out of playoffs.
2016
RSL faced the LA Galaxy again, this time in the Western Conference Knockout round and fell to the Galaxy 3-1.
RSL opened their 2018 MLS Cup run in the Knockout round against LAFC in Los Angeles, advancing after MF Damir Kreilach scored two goals then set up FW Jefferson Savarino for what proved to be the game-winner when his shot deflected into the net for an own goal and RSL won 3-2 to set up the matchup with Kansas City.
Sunday’s first leg kicks off at 8 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium, with the second leg on Sunday, November 11, at Children’s Mercy Park in the aggregate goal series.
