Real Salt Lake Given Eight Percent Chance Of Lifting MLS Cup, According To Data

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake has been given an eight percent chance of lifting the MLS Cup, according to data-driven platform FiveThirtyEight.

Who's it going to be? #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/xp10d7EjsR

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 2, 2021

The eight percent chance is the lowest of any of the four clubs left in the hunt for silverware. NYCFC and Real Salt Lake’s upcoming opponent Portland has the best chance of 31 percent while Philadelphia has a 30 percent chance.

However, the odds have been against Real Salt Lake all season long. Prior to the regular season commencing earlier in the year, Real Salt Lake was predicted by pundits across the country to finish towards the bottom of the Western Conference.

Nobody in their right mind thought Real Salt Lake was going to be one of just four clubs remaining in the MLS Playoffs. Real Salt Lake is without an owner, they have an interim manager at the helm and have yet won two playoff games albeit without their captain Albert Rusnák who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, November 21st.

The playoffs are a different beast, however. As interim manager Pablo Mastroeni and a handful of players have expressed as of late, it doesn’t matter how you win as long as you win. The first-round clash against Seattle where Real Salt Lake failed to generate a shot but found a way to win in a penalty shoot-out is a terrific example of the mentality within the group.

Next Match Info

Real Salt Lake will travel to Portland for the Western Conference Final this upcoming Saturday, December 4th, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

It will be broadcast via FS1 or FOX Deportes.