Wednesday night’s dramatic finish at Dallas – two goals in the final 10 minutes to reverse an 0-1 deficit, with substitute winger Justin Meram setting up both the Damir Kreilach equalizer and the game-winner from Captain Albert Rusnák – allowed RSL to grab the bull by the horns (no offense to those who love the FCD logo) and take firmer control of its 2021 MLS Cup Playoff destiny. Amazingly, RSL now boasts a perfect 5-0-0 record following losses in the last 55 days, during Interim Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s tenure.
Road wins have proven to be rare in Claret-and-Cobalt annals, while COME-FROM-BEHIND road wins even more elusive. The sudden and stark reversal of fortunes Wednesday in Frisco, TX reminds longtime RSL historians of a similarly dramatic road win at San Jose in late 2008, one which sparked the Club’s first-ever postseason run. That night, RSL saw a second-half surge sparked by FW Yura Movsisyan and MF Javier Morales to trigger a 3-2 win for Jason Kreis’ team, en route to a Western Conference Final loss at home to the New York Red Bulls.
Now, the Utah side returns to the friendly confines of Rio Tinto Stadium, where its overall 9-2-4 mark in 2021 includes seven consecutive wins and a perfect 4-0-0 mark during Mastroeni’s reign as part of an overall nine-game unbeaten run at home. A win Saturday against visiting San Jose would see RSL earn back-to-back victories for just the second time in Pablo’s 12 games at the helm, the previous occasion coming Sept. 15 at the Earthquakes in a wild 4-3 comeback, ahead of a 1-0 home win over West-leading Seattle, in perhaps the Club’s most complete 2021 performance.
Entering the weekend, RSL retains its extra game yet to be played in a very crowded Western Conference postseason picture. While the Club’s margin for error is nearly exhausted, that third game – one of two home and one more away matches remaining this year – gives RSL an 88% probability of qualifying for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, despite its current position of seventh in the West. The Club does own a 13% chance at No. 4 seed and the right to host a first-round MLS Cup Playoff match, with a 31% chance at a 5-seed, the most likely finish for RSL.
Now that the Claret-and-Cobalt have kept one Pablo mark – record following losses – completely flawless, that win sets up Saturday’s early afternoon “Trunk or Treat” match against eliminated San Jose (1:30p MT kickoff at Rio Tinto Stadium; for tickets, click HERE) to keep another – the Club’s home mark under his leadership – absolutely pristine. RSL’s early-afternoon kickoff concludes a stretch of three games in eight days this week and marks the midpoint of five games in the 2021 campaign’s final 16 days for Mastroeni, who assumed the Club’s Head Coaching reins back on August 27 when Freddy Juarez departed for Seattle.
During Mastroeni’s nearly two-month tenure, Real Salt Lake has won six of its last 10 following his opening 1-4 loss at Vancouver. The former Colorado Rapids mainstay has posted a 6-5-0 overall record (W-L-T), with a sparkling 4-0-0 mark at its Rio Tinto Stadium home and a dismal 2-5-0 road record as part of its overall 4-10-2 away ledger this season. However, RSL is a perfect 5-0-0 under Mastroeni in games immediately following a loss, rebounding to capture the full three points in the 90 minutes after each setback, feats emblematic of the grit, guile and poise exhibited by the current group.
RSL looks to have exorcised some road demons Wednesday at Dallas, with that dramatic 2-1 win just the Club’s second all-time win in 21 MLS games there, and the first since July 13, 2013, when Javier Morales, Ned Grabavoy and Olmes Garcia led RSL to a 3-0 win while Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman and Tony Beltran led the USA to a 2-0 win at Rio Tinto Stadium over visiting Cuba at a sold-out Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL’s all-time 2-14-5 combined mark in League regular-season and playoff matches at Dallas does not include U.S. Open Cup games there where the team lost in 2011.
Technically, based on the remaining schedules for currently-placed West teams 4-10, RSL’s extra “game in hand” arrives on Wednesday night, Nov. 3, as RSL hosts rival Portland Timbers FC in a game that could determine No. 4 overall Western seed and the host of a first-round MLS Cup Playoff Match. These stakes arriving on a night in which RSL will honor Club icon Kyle Beckerman for his stellar career in a match televised nationally on ESPN2, with 8:00 p.m. pregame festivities including various in-stadium and on-field ceremonies featuring Beckerman, who changed the Club’s culture and competitive makeup upon arrival on the Wasatch Front in July, 2007.
Back-to-back home games at Rio Tinto Stadium – where the Club has been dominant over its history, with a 123-33-55 won/loss/tie mark since moving into the Sandy venue 13 years ago this month. Across all competitions, RSL is 158-49-71 (W-L-T) at the place known affectionately as the “RioT,” with a 6-2-3 mark in the MLS Cup Playoffs, 8-1-2 in CONCACAF Champions League, 8-4-2 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and 0-1-0 in Leagues Cup. In international exhibition play, RSL is only 13-8-9 (W-L-T).
And THAT, RSL family and friends, is how the Club’s 2021 MLS Cup Playoff destiny remains in Claret-and-Cobalt control. Again, much more control, than say, the Club’s 2008 or 2009 positions offered with three regular-season matches remaining.
Current Standings, remaining slates for the “glut of six” and a chronological MLS schedule (all times MT) are below:
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER STANDINGS – WESTERN CONFERENCE
Entering Weekend of Saturday, October 30, 2021
\\ -------------- OVERALL --------------- -------- HOME -------- --------- ROAD --------**
\\ GP W L T PTS GF GA GD W L T GF GA W L T GF GA **
Sporting KC 31 17 7 7 58 56 34 22 9 2 5 32 16 8 5 2 24 18
Seattle 32 17 8 7 58 51 31 20 8 4 4 27 14 9 4 3 24 17
Colorado 32 15 7 10 55 45 33 12 8 1 7 26 12 7 6 3 19 21
Portland 32 15 13 4 49 50 51 -1 10 4 2 32 22 5 9 2 18 29
Vancouver 32 12 9 11 47 43 43 0 10 4 2 23 14 2 5 9 19 27
LA Galaxy 32 13 12 7 46 46 50 -4 8 4 4 26 19 5 8 3 18 30
Real Salt Lake 31 13 12 6 45 50 47 3 9 2 4 26 14 4 10 2 24 33
Minnesota 32 12 11 9 45 37 40 -3 9 4 3 22 13 3 7 6 15 27
Los Angeles FC 32 12 12 8 44 50 45 5 8 3 5 33 22 4 9 3 17 23
e-San Jose 32 9 13 10 37 41 50 -9 5 7 4 24 23 4 6 6 17 27
e-Houston 32 6 14 12 30 36 51 -15 6 4 6 21 21 0 10 6 15 30
e-FC Dallas 32 6 15 11 29 44 54 -10 4 5 7 23 20 2 10 4 21 34
e-Austin 31 8 19 4 28 31 50 -19 6 8 2 24 24 2 11 2 7 26
6 teams for 4 spots separated by 5 points
· RSL w/ 1 game in hand
o 2 home, 1 away
o Saturday v SJ
o NEXT Wednesday 11/3 v POR (KB5 Night)
o End of Season “Decision Day” 11/7 @ KC
· RSL 6-5-0 under Pablo since Aug 27
· RSL 5-0-0 under Pablo after a loss
· RSL 4-0-0 at home under Pablo
· RSL back-to-back wins only once under Pablo
o 9/15 @ SJ + 9/18 v SEA
OPPOSING TEAMS 4-10 REMAINING GAMES
· POR
o 11/3 @ RSL
o 11/7 v Austin
· LAG
o 11/1 @ SEA
o 11/7 v MIN
· MIN
o 10/31 v KC
o 11/6 @ LAG
· VAN
o 11/1 @ LAFC
o 11/7 v SEA
· LAFC
o 11/1 v VAN
o 11/7 @ COL
· SJ
o Sat @ RSL
o 11/7 v DALUPDATED ODDS AFTER EACH GAME: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/USA/MLS/West.html
Saturday, October 30
New York Red Bulls vs. CF Montreal, 1 p.m.
Inter Miami CF vs. New York City FC, 1:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 1:30 p.m.
Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati, 5:30 p.m.
D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew SC, 5:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Austin FC, 6 p.m.
Sunday, October 31
Chicago Fire FC vs. New England Revolution, 11 a.m.
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 1:30 p.m.
Orlando City SC vs. Nashville SC, 5:30 p.m.
Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, TBDMonday, November 1
Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Football Club vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 3
New York Red Bulls vs. Atlanta United, TBD
CF Montreal vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 5:30 p.m.
Austin FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 7
FC Cincinnati vs. Atlanta United, 1:30 p.m.
Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 1:30 p.m.
CF Montreal vs. Orlando City SC, 1:30 p.m.
Nashville SC vs. New York Red Bulls, 1:30 p.m.
New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami CF, 1:30 p.m.
New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 1:30 p.m.
Toronto FC vs. D.C. United, 1:30 p.m.
Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles Football Club, 4 p.m.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Real Salt Lake, 4 p.m.
LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United FC, 4 p.m.
Portland Timbers vs. Austin FC, 4 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas, 4 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 4 p.m.
