If you were to throw all of the data into a computer and crunch the numbers, you might settle on 68.78%.
That’s the percentage Opta’s TheAnalyst.com has set for Real Salt Lake’s chances of making Major League Soccer’s play-in round and thus securing a fifth straight postseason appearance.
But for RSL defender DeAndre Yedlin, things are more straightforward than that.
“It’s very simple,” the fullback said. “We need to go there and we need to win.”
Salt Lake has left it all to Decision Day after missing an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot last weekend in Seattle, a 1-0 loss to the Sounders.
Now, RSL (40 points) will travel to St. Louis for its final match of the regular season. A victory would ensure a play-in spot. Anything short of that could allow Colorado (40 points) or San Jose (38 points) to overtake Salt Lake.
“The biggest takeaway from this game is, obviously, when you’re going away from home, there are going to be moments when you have to weather the storm,” Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni said after Saturday’s defeat. “We have to be a bit more resilient in moments when our press isn’t working and maybe we’re not the cleanest with the ball. We have to be able to withstand that.”
Yedlin, again, will preach simplicity to his teammates.
“I think the most important thing is not blowing it out of proportion,” he said. “It’s staying present. It’s focusing on each play, each second of the game, if we can dial our focus down to that minute of a measurement.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game. For most parts of our games, we’ve been doing well. It’s just about putting it all together.”
Reinforcements coming
Real Salt Lake should be nearly full strength for Saturday’s game (7 p.m., Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass).
Winger Zavier Gozo is expected to be available after returning from helping the United States reach the quarterfinals of the Under-20 Men’s World Cup. Midfielder Braian Ojeda (Paraguay) and attacker Diego Luna (USA) will also be back from international duty after missing last weekend’s game.
An injury to watch
Striker Victor Olatunji came on as a second-half substitute in Seattle because he was dealing with a strained adductor, Mastroeni said.
“He wasn’t actually available to play until I pleaded with our medical staff and actually spoke to Victor to see if he could give some minutes,” the coach said.
RSL will hope Olatunji can provide more this weekend against a St. Louis team that has allowed the fourth-most goals in the Western Conference this season.
“For us to be successful, Victor has to be on the field,” Mastroeni said. “He’s gotta be our guy.”