Opening Minutes Of Away Games Often Pivotal In Determining Outcome For Real Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Traveling in Major League Soccer has plagued Real Salt Lake in 2021 as it has only won on 3 occasions, lost on 10, and picked up 2 draws on the road up until this point.

Getting on an airplane to play a game, sleeping in a hotel bed, eating hotel-provided food, and playing in an environment that is not familiar are all obvious reasons why road fixtures may be more difficult.

Heading down south 🤠#DALvRSL | @AFCU pic.twitter.com/8fJDjTkxkh

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 26, 2021

But there has to be more to it. If the factors listed above are the only reason for home teams’ success, then eventually the away team will find a formula to overcome the odds.

“The early exchanges in the game are really critical,” interim manager Pablo Mastroeni said when asked why road games seem to be such an issue for Real Salt Lake this year. “It is important that we win those battles, those 50/50 battles and I think if we find ourselves playing in their [the opposition] part of the field then we have neutralized the crowd, we have neutralized the home-field advantage, and then it’s about finding a way to get the ball into the back of the net,” Mastroeni added.

Ultimately, the opening quarter of an hour of any away game will likely play a significant role in determining the outcome, Mastroeni believes. If Real Salt Lake struggles early in games on the road it only provides more of a reason for the opposition and the home crowd to fight even harder.

But if Real Salt Lake can impact the game early and win a lot of the early balls, the result will likely end up favoring Real Salt Lake.

We are warm.
We will kick soccer balls soon. pic.twitter.com/fswihgukM7

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 23, 2021

The 2021 MLS regular season is winding down, the games are becoming more and more important given the current western conference standings. Real Salt Lake, albeit with a game in hand, currently sits one spot outside of the playoff race and with two road games remaining on the schedule, results on the road will likely determine the outcome of Real Salt Lake’s season.

It begins with a midweek fixture against FC Dallas this upcoming Wednesday evening. Dallas enters the fixture having drawn 2-2 against the LA Galaxy in a game that they were up 2-0 41 minutes in.

Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, and will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports & KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.