Archive for the ‘Real Salt Lake’ Category
In the middle of the euphoric celebrations of the Real Salt Lake players and coaches following their 1-1 draw with Colorado last Saturday that propelled the club into its first postseason appearance, there was a brief moment that was missed by most of the thousands looking on.
After four seasons, the wait for playoff qualification is finally over for Real Salt Lake (10-10-10 in MLS regular season), as Utah's MLS side will make its long-awaited debut in the MLS Cup Playoffs this Saturday, November 1, when RSL will play host to Chivas USA (12-11-7) at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
As the match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids kicked off at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, a section packed with red-clad supporters could be heard throughout the stadium, singing and cheering their team while it fought for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
It wasn't pretty, but Real Salt Lake will take their draw in Colorado on Saturday night and gladly play in their first postseason in club history next week.
A goal in the 90th minute was enough to give Real Salt Lake the 1-1 draw they needed to reach the postseason for the first time in club history.
Clint Mathis has seen both ends of the spectrum in his pair of stints in a Real Salt Lake uniform. Mathis was with the club in its inaugural season -- when RSL's playoff hopes were extinguished well before the final month. Now, after rejoining the Utah team during its stretch run this time around, he stands on the brink of seeing history and feels excited at the possibilities ahead.
The final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference will come down to one, winner-take-all match when the Colorado Rapids take on Real Salt Lake.
The MLS Cup Playoff hopes of Real Salt Lake (10-10-9, 39 pts.) will be determined in its 30th and final game of the 2008 regular season this Saturday, October 25, when the Utah side will travel to the Denver area to face off against the archrival Colorado Rapids (11-14-4, 37 pts.) for a "winner-take-all" Rocky Mountain Cup showdown.
Even as they went up a goal on FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake couldn't shake a nagging feeling that the Hoops had another late-game comeback lurking behind the corner -- waiting to steal away a couple of points.
When it came to playoff math, the numbers were simple for Real Salt Lake in their match against FC Dallas Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
