SANDY, Utah – When Real Salt Lake takes the field Friday against visiting Colorado (10 pm ET; NBCSN, live stream at NBCSports.com), they'll still be fighting off the after effects of a tough 3-2 loss to Seattle on Saturday that came on a 94th-minute goal.
Last week's loss gave first-place Seattle an eight-point advantage over RSL in the standings with a game in hand, making it easy to assume that any shot the Claret-and-Cobalt had at the Western Conference championship and the Supporters' Shield was over.
But, while nobody in the Salt Lake locker room is predicting they will be able to overcome that deficit with six games remaining, the fact is that RSL has one thing going for them down the stretch. At least on paper, Real face an easier schedule than any of the other three teams jockeying for the top spot in the West.
Only one of RSL's remaining six opponents, fifth-place Vancouver, are currently in playoff position. Salt Lake also have a game against the sixth-place Timbers, seventh-place Colorado, eighth-place San Jose and two against last-place Chivas USA.
“As far as the Supporters' Shield, we don't control our destiny because there are teams ahead of us,” head coach Jeff Cassar said. “But all we can do is take care of what we can control, and that's getting three points on Friday.”
But RSL will definitely be keeping an eye on the standings. Seattle face teams in playoff positions in five of their seven remaining games – including a season-ending, back-to-back pair of matches against second-place LA Galaxy. The Galaxy face teams in playoff position in five of their last six, including two against fourth-place Dallas.
And Dallas face teams in playoff position in four of their last six, including a game against Seattle.
“Obviously, we'll be watching those games and seeing what kind of form they're in,” Tony Beltran told reporters. “Because they'll be interesting matchups. Those are matchups you'll likely see in the postseason as well.”
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And, as MLS fans have seen over the years, anything can happen.
“Yes, absolutely,” Beltran said. “Every year, it seems like toward the end of the year something kind of happens. Like, look at Seattle last year. They were on top of the world, and all of a sudden they can't put a result together.”
Cassar said the team's top priority making the playoffs.
“Positioning yourself well for success is even better,” he said. “And the fresher you can be going into each round of the playoffs is key.”
Beltran insisted that RSL aren’t looking any further ahead than Friday's game against Colorado.
“We have to focus on us,” he said.
