This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Seattle • On a Sunday afternoon inside familiar oppposing territory is where Real Salt Lake will learn about its immediate future and, likely, what could come after that.
The scenarios of which RSL can lay the first brick in its new path of postseason berths have been hammered out at length since last weekend. There are 27 potential formulations involving RSL, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers. Of those, one have RSL, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, crashing out in what would turn out to be a collapse unforeseen in franchise history. Pressure? It's there, no matter how hard players or coaches sport their poker faces this week.
And while they may say it's not on their minds, RSL has thought about what the label of 2016 would be following this two-month timeframe in which the club could go from vying for a Supporter's Shield to potentially No. 7, out of the MLS Cup playoffs, replete a bevy of questions as to how it went wrong so quickly.
"Going from where we were early season, midseason, I think it would be a disaster," said the always-straightforward Yura Movsisyan. "It would be something that is unacceptable, and everybody's gotta be held accountable for it."
A win against the Sounders inside CenturyLink Field on Sunday guarantees RSL a first-round knockout match at home, either Wednesday or Thursday. A draw puts the club anywhere from Rio Tinto Stadium to L.A. to Portland or Kansas City. A loss leaves RSL at the mercy of the rivals aiming to catapult themselves over RSL, to complete the cave-in.
"We have to get into the playoffs, especially after the season we've had," Movsisyan added. "It's been ups and downs, but I would say more positives. There's just no way that it'd be acceptable that we possibly won't make it. It's not an option."
RSL does not want to find out the hard way how the most untimely of dips in form could derail a once-promising season. In the first week of September, RSL was in second place in the West, having beaten the two best teams in the conference — FC Dallas and Colorado — in consecutive outings at home. Since, it's been a series of fluffed chances and missed opportunities.
One goal in five games. Six in a row, winless. That dream of a first-round bye evaporated over a stretch in which RSL claimed three points from a possible 18. Yet RSL veteran right back Tony Beltran said his team has to dictate its own destiny on Sunday.
"This is what we worked for all year," Beltran said, "and if we can't get the job done, we don't deserve it. But I know everybody's going to be up for the occasion."
Javier Morales wants his team to forget about the slide. It hasn't been lost in the locker room that every player, he said, must perform at a higher level and to get more out of each other. "Now is not the time to be panicked or be worried about the last couple weeks. If we do it that way, it's going to be bad for us," he said.
If it does go all sideways on RSL, what happens then? If the Sounders continue their late-season steamroll and top RSL while Portland and Sporting KC win, then who is responsible? The team, despite the injection of center back Justen Glad and at times midfielder Jordan Allen, is one of the oldest in MLS this year weighted by minutes played, according to ESPN columnist Jeff Carlisle.
There might be more than just a postseason berth on the line Sunday. Suspicions arise at this time every year, and for RSL, it's first and foremost: What is the future of head coach Jeff Cassar? The final year of his three-year deal is on its last legs. He has become the latest face of the franchise to enter an offseason — whenever that may come — with unknowns.
Cassar told the Tribune this week that conversations between his representation and RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen are continuing. The discussions so far, Cassar said, have been "really good. It hasn't been radio silence," he added. Before embarking on a scouting trip to Scandinavia last week, RSL general manager Craig Waibel told the Tribune that talks remain amicable.
Beyond Cassar, will the aging RSL trio of Morales, captain Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando be around for their 11th season together at the franchise in 2017? Morales turns 37 in January, Beckerman 35 in April. Those three were younger pillars as part of this organization in 2008 and 2009 when RSL's postseason lives came down to the final day of the regular season. Those RSL clubs got in, and went on respective playoff runs to a conference final and, of course, an MLS Cup trophy.
"It's playoff time already," Beckerman said.
Nine months and two days before RSL's judgement day in downtown Seattle, the team convened in Sandy in late January for entrance physicals. The group hasn't forgotten about 2015, of the games lost, of the lengthy goal droughts, of watching the MLS Cup playoffs at home on TV. A result against the Sounders ensures a run is possible.
The alternative potentially leaves a gaping hole with more questions as to what comes next, and possibly, more changes on the horizon.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders
P At CenturyLink Field, Seattle
Kickoff » Sunday, 2 p.m.
TV » ESPN
Radio » 700 AM
Records » RSL 12-11-10, Seattle 13-14-6
Last meeting » Seattle 2, RSL 1 (Aug. 14 at CenturyLink Field)
About RSL » Forward Yura Movsisyan (heel) trained fully this week and is expected to be available Sunday. … RSL is 0-11-4 in its past 15 games on turf. … All-time, RSL is 8-26-18 on turf and has been outscored 90-43. … RSL's last win in Seattle came in 2012. … RSL has lost five straight on the road against the Sounders. … Javier Morales and Joao Plata are the only active RSL players to have scored in Seattle. … RSL has scored one goal in its past five outings.
About Seattle » Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing last week due to red-card suspension. … Midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz (knee sprain) has been ruled out of the match against RSL. … Captain Brad Evans (left calf strain) is considered questionable. … Rookie forward Jordan Morris leads the team with 12 goals scored in 2016. … Midseason signing Nicolas Lodeiro has four goals and eight assists in 12 appearances.