SANDY, Utah (Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012) – Real Salt Lake (17-11-6, 57 points, West #2) will open its fifth-consecutive MLS Cup Playoff campaign on Friday Nov. 2, when the Claret-and-Cobalt will travel to take on Seattle Sounders FC (15-8-11, 56 points, West #3) in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal series.
Friday’s match will kickoff at 8:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network as well as on ESPN700AM and La Gran D 102.3 FM/Juan 1600AM.
This is the second-consecutive year that RSL and Seattle will meet in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Utah side took last year’s series, downing Sounders FC 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in the first leg and beating back a Seattle siege to lose 2-0 in the second leg at CenturyLink Field and advance to the Western Conference Final by a 3-2 aggregate score.
RSL finished the 2012 regular season with the most points (57), most wins (17) and most goals (46) in club history. This year’s team broke the marks set by the 2010 squad, which compiled 56 points, won 15 times and scored 45 goals in its 30-game season.
Real Salt Lake enters the playoffs on a very solid run of form, unbeaten in its last seven games and 6-1-4 in its last 11 – both streaks coming across all competitions. The Claret-and-Cobalt has been absolutely terrific defensively during its hot stretch, posting eight shutouts and giving up just three goals in its last 11 matches in both MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play.
The Claret-and-Cobalt played Seattle three times in the 2012 regular season, compiling a 1-0-2 record against Sounders FC. RSL won the first match between the sides, getting a fabulous goal from FW Fabian Espindola to beat Seattle 1-0 at CenturyLink Field on May 12. The clubs drew the second and third meetings, tying 0-0 on both July 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium and Oct. 17 at CenturyLink Field.
RSL will return to Utah for the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal series against Seattle on Nov. 8. Tickets for that match – as well as the rest of RSL's playoff schedule – can be purchased online at www.RealSaltLake.com, at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office or by calling (801) 727-2700.
Stay tuned to www.RealSaltLake.com and follow the club on Twitter @RealSaltLake for all the latest news and information on the team ahead of the Nov. 2 Western Conference Semifinal series first leg in Seattle.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders FC
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. MT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 7:30 p.m. MT)
- Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide match updates
MLS Playoff Guide and Game Guide for Friday’s RSL at Seattle Match Now Available Online
Following are the links to the Adobe PDF version of the MLS Playoff Guide and the Game Guide in advance of Friday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC. If you have any problems obtaining the document, would prefer to receive it as an attachment, or are seeking more information on the match, please contact Media Services Manager Sam Stejskal in the RSL Communications Department via email at sstejskal@realsaltlake.com.
Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Playoff Guide
Click here to download the PDF version of the RSL at Seattle MLS Game Guide
RSL History v. Seattle
RSL leads its all-time series with Sounders FC 4-3-4. RSL has done very well at Seattle, posting a 2-2-2 record in the Pacific Northwest in all competitions, the second-best mark of any MLS team when playing Sounders FC in Seattle.
Real Salt Lake is 1-0-2 against Sounders FC this year. The Claret-and-Cobalt took the first meeting, getting a 50th minute goal from FW Fabian Espindola to down Seattle 1-0. The teams drew in their second and third matches, playing to a scoreless draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 4 and again at CenturyLink Field on Oct. 17.
