RSL has chance to clinch first playoff berth Saturday

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

(KSL Sports) Real Salt Lake (9-10-9, 36 pts.) marked a new era last Thursday with opening night at Rio Tinto Stadium and RSL can take a huge step towards another franchise milestone, a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with a win in the final regular season home contest.

RSL takes on FC Dallas (8-9-11, 35 pts.) this Saturday, October 18, at 7 p.m. If the playoffs began today, Real Salt Lake would be in position to make its first trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs by virtue of holding the third and final guaranteed spot in the Western Conference, and RSL is in the preferred position of controlling its own postseason destiny heading into its final two contests.

With a win over the "Hoops" this Saturday, Real Salt Lake would clinch its first-ever postseason berth on Sunday should the archrival Colorado Rapids either lose or tie against Chivas USA. If both Real Salt Lake and Colorado take care of business with three points this weekend, then RSL would only need to draw the Rapids in the regular season finale.

The two play in Denver Oct. 25 for the Rocky Mountain Cup at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire clinched the fourth and fifth postseason slots this past weekend, but a historic race for the final three spots, the West's #3 seed and the two "Wild Card" positions, continues.

All nine teams on the outside looking in are still eligible to qualify for the postseason heading into this week's slate of eight League contests.

RSL's Race to the Playoffs (includes Sunday's MLS results):

If the season ended today, the teams shown in bold below would qualify for the playoffs. Their current points (in parentheses), and games remaining [in brackets] are as follow:

Eastern Conference: Western Conference:

1. Columbus (54) [2]** 1. Houston (44) [3] *

2. New England (43) [2] * 2. Chivas USA (42) [2] *^

3. Chicago (43) [2] * 3. Real Salt Lake (36) [2]

4. New York (36) [2] - Wild Card #1 4. FC Dallas (35) [2]

5. Kansas City (36) [2] - Wild Card #2 5. Colorado (34) [2]

6. D.C. United (34) [2] 6. LA Galaxy (32) [2]

7. Toronto FC (32) [2] 7. San Jose (30) [3]

```

* Clinched playoff berth

** Clinched home field advantage (and MLS Supporters Shield)

# NY holds tie-breaker over KC (head-to-head)

^ CHV guaranteed at least #2 seed in West (holds head-to-head tie-breaker over RSL)

RSL Clinching Scenarios for Saturday:

1) A win v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- A Colorado loss or draw @ Chivas USA on Sunday [RSL clinches West's #3 seed because no other team in West could reach 39 points except San Jose (RSL wins head-to-head tie-breaker over SJ)]

2) A draw v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 (RSL clinches West's #3 seed because no other team in West could reach 40 points)

*** RSL could also clinch a berth with a loss v. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 and an FC Dallas loss @ LA Galaxy on 10/26 [RSL clinches West's #3 seed on final day (RSL-39, FCD-38, COL-could finish no higher than 37)] OR

- A win @ Colorado on 10/25 and either a loss and tie or two losses by NY or KC and any point lost by DC across those three teams' last two contests (RSL would secure a Wild Card spot on 39 points)