Real Salt Lake Playoff Bound With Win Versus Portland

Oct 3, 2022, 11:38 AM

Sergio Cordova - RSL vs. Portland Timbers - Preseason...

Santiago Moreno #30 of the Portland Timbers carries the past Sergio Cordova #11 of the Real Salt Lake during the preseason friendly match between Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers at Providence Park on February 19, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

BY TOM HACKETT

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – The 2022 season for Real Salt Lake will come down to the final game of the year when they host Portland Timbers on Decision Day.

If Real Salt Lake wins, they will qualify for the postseason. A draw or loss against Portland and RSL will fall agonizingly short of a playoff birth.

Ultimately, despite a chaotic and disappointing second half of the season where RSL has only managed 4 wins in its previous 20 matches, the club still controls its own destiny.

Real Salt Lake will host the Portland Timbers, a club that finds itself two points clear of RSL in the eighth position. The Western Conference is so congested that only three points separate RSL and the fourth-placed LA Galaxy.

Win & we’re in Sunday. pic.twitter.com/H9psOegjnF

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 2, 2022

Portland enters the fixture having most recently lost to LAFC on Sunday 2-1 following a 95th-minute winner by LA striker Denis Bouanga that not only secured the three points but also secured the Supporter’s Shield for LAFC.

Prior to the loss against LAFC, the Timbers were flying up the western conference having won four of their five games.

The upcoming fixture for Real Salt Lake is monumental for the growth of the club under new leadership. It is also a massive game for certain departments within the club, most specifically, the front office. Led by Elliot Fall, the front office is under growing pressure to produce quality soccer players. The entire department was hired prior to the introduction of Ryan Smith and the Blitzer group, adding pressure onto the shoulder of Fall and his staff.

To reiterate, a win against Portland cements a playoff position for Real Salt Lake and a loss or draw does not grant the Claret and Cobalt qualification.