RSL enters MLS Playoffs with 'anyone can win' mentality

HERRIMAN — Real Salt Lake enters Sunday's playoff opener in Austin, Texas, as a major underdog — the bottom seed taking on the No. 2 seed — but Pablo Mastroeni and his squad know the standings go out the window in the postseason after last year's surprise run to the conference final.

"That's the beauty of sport: When you can get into the playoffs and you make a run, it's amazing how it just brings everyone together," Mastroeni said. "I think if we can put something together in Austin and get a result, again, I'm really confident about where we're at.

"But also knowing there are some unbelievable teams that have earned the right to be where they are ahead of us. It's like a parent to a child: You're so proud of the work that the guys are putting in all year long for this moment. Now just 90 minutes of football — it's the best ever."

Those 90 minutes of soccer come Sunday at 1 p.m. MDT, almost exactly one week after RSL put together an inspired and complete performance in the final 90 minutes of the regular season against Portland to qualify for the playoffs.

Since qualifying, RSL has received support for its playoff run from around the community, including the fellow Ryan Smith-owned Utah Jazz. Several RSL players were in attendance at the Jazz-Spurs preseason game on Oct. 11 and the PA announcer at Vivint Arena gave the team a shoutout.

RSL ripped off three goals for just the fifth time this year in the season finale against Portland and got contributions from some unexpected places.

The first goal was exactly as RSL wrote it up: a beautiful curler in the 19th minute from designated player Jefferson Savarino; the second was the eventual game winner from Rubio Rubin in the 48th minute — his first goal of the season — and the third came from 20-year-old Homegrown Utahn Bode Hidalgo in the 82nd minute, which was the first goal of his MLS career.

Rubin's goal could not have come at a better time as he put his team through to the playoffs and established another threat in an attack that has been greatly missing both Bobby Wood and Damir Kreilach for most of the season.

"When I scored that goal it just opened everything," Rubin said. "With confidence on the ball, looking forward and just being myself again. As a striker, you want to see the first one go in and then the rest come after that."

Despite hopes that Kreilach might be able to play against Austin after training with the full group this week, he confirmed he will not be playing. That leaves the team to rely, once again, on Rubin and Sergio Cordova up top, with Savarino and Maikel Chang assisting from the wings.

RSL and Austin split the regular-season series with one win each. RSL won 2-1 in Sandy on May 14 thanks to an 88th-minute game winner from Andrew Brody, and Austin capitalized on RSL's late-season slump with a 3-0 win at home on Sept. 14.

"I think it's going to be a battle," Mastroeni said. "I think Austin's a great team. I think they've had a fantastic campaign, but when it's a one-game situation, I think anyone can win."

RSL came in last in the league-wide playoff standings and will not get to host any games, which means a run will require multiple wins on the road. Last year, RSL won a 0-0 draw on penalties in Seattle in the first round and won 2-1 in Kansas City in the semifinals before falling 2-0 in Portland in the Western Conference Final.

It was a dramatic run that in many ways set the team up for its impressive start to the season this year, and Mastroeni and his players believe they are capable of doing even better this time around.

"I really think we are the best team in the league," Kreilach said. "And now it's playoff time. We know what it takes: It takes courage, effort and concentration from every single player on the field and off the field, too. And I think we can even top the result from last year, but we have to stay humble. You have to go one game at a time."

The opening match against Austin will be broadcast on ABC at 1 p.m. MDT.

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