Real Salt Lake faces another must win vs. Colorado (Oct 15, 2017)
After fighting uphill over the past three months to get back into the playoff race, Real Salt Lake faces another near do-or-die match versus the Colorado Rapids on Sunday when the two sides square off on at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
Currently, RSL (12-14-6, 42 points) is one point behind FC Dallas for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference and in the midst of four teams fighting to make the postseason. After a bye last weekend, Real Salt Lake heads to Colorado for its final road contest with seven wins and four draws in its past 13 matches.
Every one of the available six points is crucial for Real Salt Lake if the club hopes to reach he postseason for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons, and the team has taken an approach to every game as if it's a playoff game.
Win, and Real Salt Lake can nearly control its own destiny. Lose, and it'll take some serious help from other results to make a playoff appearance.
"The players understand the challenge that's ahead of them and they understand what our goals are," Real Salt Lake coach Mike Petke said. "And they are very eager to get this game going and hopefully get a result, which is what we need. The strength has always been mentality. The talent has always been there."
Real Salt Lake has only lost once in their last six matches (four wins, one draw) and has outscored its opponents 15-6 across those matches.
"It's really all in our hands, and that's the exciting part," RSL defender Justen Glad said. "There's definitely some pressure, but that's what we're doing this job for. We perform under pressure, and it gives you a little extra focus, a little extra energy in these big games."
RSL will be without defender Marcelo Silva, a key midseason addition, who drew a red card suspension in a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy on Sept. 30. Midfielder Jefferson Savarino is also doubtful with an ankle injury suffered in that same game.
Colorado (8-18-6, 30 points) has been out of the playoff race for some time, but has been a spoiler for other sides' chances in recent outings.
The Rapids beat Montreal 2-1 on Sept. 30 -- the Impact has since been eliminated from the postseason -- and then forged a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Oct. 7, in the process helping Real Salt Lake with its playoff hopes and damaging those of Dallas, the defending Supporters Shield champions.
"It would have been nice to reward the fans for their loyalty with three points," Rapids interim coach Steve Cooke said after the draw last Saturday. "I'm disappointed we didn't win the match, but credit to FC Dallas -- they're fighting for their playoff lives."
The Rapids have won just one of their past six league home matches, going 1-3-2 over that stretch. Colorado has scored multiple goals in only two of those six matches and just seven total.
RSL has a clear edge in the series, with a 17-12-10 all-time record, including 2-0-0 this year (a 2-1 win at Colorado in April, and 4-1 in Utah this summer), and have clinched this season's edition of the Rocky Mountain Cup, for the ninth time in the 13 years it's been awarded.
Colorado will be without suspended defender Jared Watts while midfielder Micheal Azira is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
