Real Salt Lake 3 vs. 1 Portland Timbers
October 9, 2022; America First Field, Sandy, Utah
Real Salt Lake (12-11-11, 47 points); Portland Timbers (11-9-13, 46 points)
Man of the Match: Defender Bryan Oviedo showed off his experience in the final match of the 2022 regular season, putting work on both the offensive and defensive end to help Real Salt Lake lock up the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Oviedo earned his first two assists since joining the Club, finding Jefferson Savarino and Rubio Rubin for the first two goals of the match. The Costa Rican international was clinical in the attack, leading the Club in chances created with three and recording 100% passing accuracy in the final third. Additionally, Oviedo also helped on the defensive end, recording a team-leading two tackles to help keep the Timbers’ attack at bay for the majority of the match.
Telling Stat: With today’s win, Real Salt Lake has punched its ticket into 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, its 12th postseason appearance since the Club’s inception in 2005. RSL first made the playoffs in 2008, the Club’s first season at the Riot and reached the Conference Final before falling to New York Red Bulls. The Claret-and-Cobalt have qualified for the MLS Playoffs four of the past five seasons and snuck its way in the past two seasons in the final match of regular-season play. Additionally, this is the first postseason appearance under the new Blitzer-Smith ownership group.
What You Missed: On Decision Day 2022, Real Salt Lake locked up the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, defeating Portland Timbers 3-1. Forwards Jefferson Savarino and Rubio Rubin both came up clutch in front of the net with Savarino netting his seventh goal of the season along with an assist, and Rubin earning his first. Real Salt Lake Homegrown Bode Hidalgo found the back of the net for the first time in his MLS career, while midfielder Jasper Loffelsend tallied his fifth assist of the season. Costa Rican International Bryan Oviedo set up two of the three goals to pocket his first two assists since joining the Club on August 4. Furthermore, goalkeeper Zac MacMath became the first “Iron Man” in Real Salt Lake history, playing in every minute of the 2022 regular season.
What’s Next: Real Salt Lake will face Austin FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday, October 16 at 1:00 p.m. MT at Q2 Stadium, the match will be broadcast live on ABC.
