SANDY, Utah – (Saturday, October 5, 2019) – Real Salt Lake heads to BC Place to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC with its playoff spot in tow for its Decision Day match set for 2:00p MT on Sunday, October 6. Sunday’s match can be seen live locally on KMYU and the KSL TV app and on the radio on ESPN700.
Having booked its ticket to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons, RSL now seeks victory against the Whitecaps and with results elsewhere, could earn a home match during Round 1. The following scenarios would see RSL host during Round 1 with a victory on Sunday:
- Seattle wins and LA Galaxy wins … RSL finishes 4th and hosts Minnesota
-Seattle wins and LA Galaxy loses or draws … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts Portland, Dallas or San Jose
-Seattle draws and LA Galaxy loses or draws … RSL finishes 4th and hosts LA Galaxy
-Minnesota wins and LA Galaxy wins … RSL finishes 4th and hosts Seattle
-Minnesota wins and LA Galaxy loses or draws … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts Portland, Dallas or San Jose
If RSL Wins, Seattle or Minnesota Wins and LA Galaxy Loses or Draws And:
- Portland wins … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts Portland
- Portland loses or draws and San Jose wins or draws and Dallas wins … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts Dallas
- Portland loses or draws and San Jose wins and Dallas loses or draws … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts San Jose
- Portland draws and Dallas loses or draws … RSL finishes 3rd and hosts Portland
RSL enters Decision Day after booking its ticket to the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo last Sunday, a match that saw FW Corey Baird score the second fastest goal in club history before FW Jefferson Savarino notched the match-winning strike in the second half.
Vancouver will play its final match of the 2019 season against RSL on Sunday having already been eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season. In its last match, Whitecaps FC topped the LA Galaxy 4-3 in a thrilling match in California last Sunday.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Sunday, October 6, 2019
· Coverage Begins: 1:30 p.m. MT
· Local TV: KMYU w/ David James (play-by-play), Tony Beltran (color) & Samantha Yarock (sideline)
· Digital Streaming: KSL TV app
· English Radio: ESPN700 with Bill Riley (play-by-play) & Jay Nolly (color)
· Spanish Radio: N/A
Game Notes for Sunday’s RSL @ VAN game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Sunday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Whitecaps is available HERE. 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 Taran Meyer in the RSL Communications Department via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.
RSL enters the match seeing 12 different players notch goals for the club. The team is led in scoring by MF Albert Rusnák with 10 goals, followed closely by Designated Player FW Sam Johnson with nine goals while Rusnák has added an additional five assists.
2018 RSL Golden Boot winner MF Damir Kreilach has remained a steady presence in the midfield for RSL in 2019, providing five goals and five assists in 29 starts this season. Playmaker FW Jefferson Savarino has eight goals and five assists to his name, enough to earn a call-up to the Venezuelan Men’s National Team for the 2019 Copa America in Brazil this summer.
On the backline, DF Nedum Onuoha has been a mainstay at centerback in his first full season with the club, featuring in 26 of the club’s 33 matches thus far. The former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers defender has seen been paired alongside Homegrown DFs Justen Glad, Erik Holt and Marcelo Silva and on occasion, MF Nick Besler. On both sides of the backline, Homegrown DFs Aaron Herrera, Brooks Lennon and Donny Toia have battled for starting positions at right and left back. Herrera leads the team in matches played and minutes in 2019 having featured in 31 of RSL’s 33 matches and leads the team in minutes played with 2,678.
In goal, legendary GK Nick Rimando has featured in 28 matches in 2019, earning nine shutouts. Prior to the commencement of the season, Rimando announced that 2019 – his 20th season in MLS would be his last. On July 6, Rimando became the first player in MLS to start and play in 500 regular season matches as he continues to set the bench mark for players across the league. GK Andrew Putna has also seen action in goal this season, starting five of RSL’s 32 matches while earning one shutout on the year in RSL’s dominant 3-0 victory over 2019 expansion side FC Cincinnati on April 19.
