One down, two to go.
But Real Salt Lake is facing today what figures to be the toughest test of its last-ditch, three-game push to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs again. Just three days after its 2-0 win over New York, the team is on the road playing a fresh Toronto FC team that itself is fighting for one of the last available playoff spots.
"I like that we have a short turnaround," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said, "because we can't think about anything."
Like the fact that anything but a victory tonight will all but end their season?
That has to be an anxious thought for RSL, considering it's just 2-10-2 on the road this season and has never won a road game on artificial turf, such as the one at BMO Field in Toronto. But if RSL can clear tonight's hurdle, it at least will have a home crowd on its side when it tries to defeat rival Colorado in the regular-season finale at Rio Tinto Stadium next weekend.
"We're pretty confident," midfielder Andy Williams said. "It's going to be a tough game because they're in the same spot as us, needing a win, but the pressure is on them, playing at home."
Team officials have long believed they need to reach 43 points in the standings to qualify for the playoffs again, and they need to win their last two games to hit that mark.
Toronto is sitting just one point behind RSL in the standings -- 36 to 37 -- and similarly needs a good result after allowing an equalizer to lowly San Jose deep into stoppage at home last weekend.
"We're angry," Toronto goalkeeper Brian Edwards said. "We're hungry now and we're not going to throw in the towel -- there's not a chance of that happening at all. We've got players in here that want to win, that know how to win and that can win, and it's just that as a group we're going to have to dig in and hope for a little bit of luck."
RSL beat the Reds 3-0 at home earlier this season, but has not won in its two previous trips to rowdy BMO Field. The team expects to have everybody available for what could be the game that determines its fate.
It could come late, too.
While RSL leads the league in goals scored in the final 15 minutes, Toronto has allowed more than any other team in that interval.
At BMO Field, Toronto
Kickoff » Today, 2 p.m. MDT
TV » KUTV 2.2 Digital/Comcast 111
Radio » 700 AM, 1600 AM
Records » RSL 10-11-7; Toronto 9-10-9
Series » Tied, 2-2-1
Last meeting » RSL 3, Toronto 0 (June 27)
About RSL » It must win to keep its playoff hopes alive. ... It's only 2-10-2 on the road, the second-worst record in the league. ... It leads the league by having scored 17 goals in the final 15 minutes. ... Forward Robbie Findley leads the team with 10 goals and three assists..
About Toronto » One point behind RSL in the standings, it's coming off a disappointing last-minute draw with lowly San Jose last weekend. ... It's worst in the league by having allowing 15 goals in the final 15 minutes. ... Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario leads the team with 11 goals and six assists.
