SANDY, Utah (Sunday, October 28, 2018) – Real Salt Lake has clinched a berth in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs and will face LAFC at Banc of California Stadium in the Knockout Round on Thursday, November 1 (8:30 p.m. MT kickoff).
The match will be televised live nationally on ESPN 2 and UniMas and locally on ESPN 700.
RSL finished sixth in the Western Conference with a 14-13-7 record (49 points), returning to the postseason for the second time in the last three seasons and the ninth time in 14 seasons since the club’s inaugural season in 2005.
Led by the 12 goals and eight assists from MF Damir Kreilach, RSL features a balanced attack with six players (Kreilach, MF Albert Rusnák, FW Joao Plata, FW Corey Baird, FW Jefferson Savarino and FW Luis Silva) scoring five goals or more and seven players (Savarino, Plata, Kreilach, Rusnák, FW Sebastian Saucedo, Baird and DF Brooks Lennon) contributing five or more assists.
On the defensive side, MF Kyle Beckerman set the tone alongside MF Sunny in front of a youthful back line saw RSL Academy products DF Justen Glad, DF Aaron Herrera and Lennon see the bulk of the minutes, along with DF Nick Besler and DF Marcelo Silva. GK Nick Rimando continued his illustrious career as well, posting 13 wins and seven shutouts in his 19th MLS season.
In the Knockout Round, RSL will face LAFC, who finished third in the Western Conference at 16-9-9 (57 points).
In the one-match Knockout Round, there will be one match played at the higher seed. If the match is tied after 90 minutes, they will play two 15-minute overtime periods. If the match remains tied after 120 minutes, it will go to a penalty-kick shootout, with the winning team advancing to the Conference Semifinals.