SANDY, Utah (Sunday, October 6, 2019) – Real Salt Lake will host the Portland Timbers in the First Round of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, October 19, at 8 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at RSL.com/tickets or by phone at 844.REAL.TIX. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNews.
Real Salt Lake finished the regular season third in the Western Conference at 16-13-5 (53 points). That included a 12-4-1 record at Rio Tinto Stadium, one of only three teams in Major League Soccer with 12 or more wins at home. In addition, RSL finished third in MLS with 12 shutouts and 41 goals allowed.
GK Nick Rimando finished the season – his 13th with RSL and 20th and final season in MLS - with a 14-11-4 record with 10 shutouts and a 1.26 goals against average. He placed sixth in MLS in wins, fourth in shutouts and fourth in goals against average among keepers who started at least half of his team’s matches. His 14 wins and 10 shutouts were his highest totals since winning 16 games with 12 shutouts in 2012, bringing his MLS record-setting career totals to 223 wins, 154 shutouts, 1,705 saves and 514 starts.
MF Albert Rusnák led the team in scoring with 10 goals, adding five assists, which tied for the team high. FW Sam Johnson had nine goals in his first MLS season, while FW Jefferson Savarino finished with eight goals and five assists, MF Damir Kreilach had six goals and five assists and FW Corey Baird ended with five goals and four assists. Along with Rusnák, Savarino and Kreilach, MF Kyle Beckerman shared the team lead with five assists.
This will be Real Salt Lake’s 10th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in the last 12 seasons. RSL made two appearances in the MLS Cup Final, winning the MLS Cup championship in 2009.
