Real Salt Lake: RSL still adjusting to role as postseason pursuers

Sandy • Tony Beltran grabbed hold of that imaginary blowtorch and took aim at talk of extending Real Salt Lake's playoff streak. In his eighth season at RSL, the 27-year-old defender has experienced Major League Soccer's postseason every year he's laced them up.

Yet RSL, one of the clubs used to being chased come October, is now doing the chasing. And Beltran said the accomplishments of the past seven seasons don't matter when it comes to RSL pursuing an eighth straight playoff appearance.

"This is our job," Beltran said. "Everything's in front of us. Nothing that we've done in the past matters. Everything that matters is the next training [session], the next game."

That sort of transparency is part of growing accustomed to a new role in the Western Conference. Since 2010, RSL has either finished in the West's top three.

Now? The club is currently ninth, chasing the sixth seed. A win in Colorado on Sunday put RSL three points behind Portland, which comes to Rio Tinto Stadium next Wednesday for another 90-minute drama to determine whether or not RSL's season will go on.

"Nothing is given to you in this league," Beltran said.

Clearly. For the past six seasons, RSL's been one of the top dogs. Living game by game is, for lack of a better term, strange.

"I know the guys know what's at stake," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said.

RSL wants stars for Portland

RSL's Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando are with the U.S. men's national team in Southern California ahead of Saturday's CONCACAF Cup. The one-game playoff between rivals U.S. and Mexico at the Rose Bowl will determine which country represents the region at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

A day before RSL's match with Portland, however, is a U.S. friendly with Costa Rica in Harrison, N.J. Cassar said he and general manager Craig Waibel are in discussions with the U.S. Soccer Federation to ensure both Beckerman and Rimando are released after Saturday's match.

Cassar voiced his frustration with being in the thick of a playoff chase and needing to ensure two of his most important players are available.

"It's life," he said. "We have to deal with it. There's other teams that have to deal with it as well. But it sucks for us, it sucks for the fans, it sucks for everything because at this time in the season you want everyone to be available."

Mulholland's rocket

Now that he's had a few days to digest his first goal in nearly five months, Luke Mulholland admitted his game-winner at Colorado left him a bit overwhelmed. After training Wednesday, the RSL midfielder said in his euphoric state Sunday, he put his jersey over his head in celebration with teammates.

"The guys tried to put it back on before the referee noticed — but he noticed," said Mulholland, who was shown a yellow card for excessively celebrating. "I had to be on my best behavior in the second half."

ckamrani@sltrib.com

Twitter: @chriskamrani