This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Their upcoming schedule looks like Major League Soccer's murderers' row.
Only three teams sit above Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference standings right now, and that's exactly who is coming to Rio Tinto Stadium over the next three weeks: FC Dallas, the Colorado Rapids and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
So forget RSL's magic number for a second. The points they need over their final nine games to clinch a playoff spot should only be the first step.
With RSL peeking toward the end of the MLS marathon, it needs to do some damage against the league's best right now to make sure it's one of them at the end of the season.
"We have to take care of business at home," head coach Jeff Cassar said Friday, as his team wrapped up training ahead of Saturday's tilt with Dallas. "Points are at a premium, but everything is in our hands right now. … If we want to make the gap to the tap, we've got to beat them. Then when we play [the teams below RSL], create distance between us and them. Everything is in our hands right now. It is completely up to us how we finish out the year."
RSL will start by looking to give FC Dallas some payback on Wednesday. In their first meeting this season, an RSL side missing a number of regular starters lost 2-0 in Texas. But even with RSL closer to full strength and former star Fabian Castillo now in Turkey, the current leaders for the Supporters Shield can pose a serious threat.
"If we lose the ball cheaply, in bad areas, that's just going to ignite their attack," Cassar said.
Likewise, RSL can't afford slip-ups against Dallas, Colorado or L.A. as they continue to fight for playoff seeding.
Right now, striker Yura Movsisyan said, is "the perfect time" to look at where everyone is in the standings and where they want to be when the playoffs begin.
"It's all in our hands," he said, echoing his coach. "We just have to do it. It's as simple as that."
RSL will likely be without starting center back Aaron Maund again this weekend as the team continues to seek opinions on the defender's injured foot. But RSL could see a boost next week when midfielders Sunday Stephen and Jordan Allen are expected to return to training after rehabbing from injuries.
Everyone around Rio Tinto Stadium, meanwhile, knows this homestand has to go better than the last one for RSL to move up in the standings. The club strung together four straight home draws at one point in July. They can't afford a similar pace these next three weeks.
"We don't want them to create too much space between us and them and we don't want the teams below us catching up," defender Chris Wingert said. "This is huge and we know we have to take care of business at home. … It's going to be a dogfight to the finish here and hopefully we can put ourselves in a good position going into October."
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas
At Rio Tinto Stadium
Kickoff • Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 10-8-7, 37 points; Dallas 13-6-6, 45 points
Last meeting • A 2-0 win for Dallas in Texas on June 25.
About RSL • Looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss last weekend in Seattle. … Center back Aaron Maund's status is in doubt because of a foot injury. … Striker Yura Movsisyan says he had no setbacks in training this week after returning from injury and playing 45 minutes last Sunday at Seattle.
About Dallas • Speedster Fabian Castillo bolted to Turkey, but the Dallas attack is still potent thanks to the likes of Maximiliao Urruti and Michael Barrios. … Undefeated over their last six contests across all competitions. … In addition to leading the Supporters Shield race, Dallas will play for the Open Cup next month. —
Western Conference standings
W L T Pts
FC Dallas 13 6 6 45
Colorado 11 3 9 42
Los Angeles 9 3 11 38
Real Salt Lake 10 8 7 37
Sporting Kansas City 10 11 5 35
Portland 8 9 8 32
San Jose 7 6 10 31
Vancouver 8 11 6 30
Seattle 8 12 3 27
Houston 4 10 9 21