With the end of the season nearing and playoffs looming, Sunday is potentially the last home match of the 2019 season for Real Salt Lake, here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. Real Salt Lake is coming off a 1-2 home loss to L.A. Galaxy on Wednesday night. Pavon and Ibrahimovic scored, and assisted each other, in the second half for the visitors before Nedum Onuoha could pull one back for RSL but it was too little too late. Onuoha’s goal was his first for RSL. Both teams had the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot depending on other results, the win clinched it for L.A.
Albert Rusnak leads the team with ten goals and three assists, Sam Johnson has nine goals, Jefferson Savarino has seven goals and five assists, Damir Kreilach has five goals and four assists, and Corey Baird has four goals and two assists.
2. Real Salt Lake remains in 5th place in the western conference with a record of 14-13-5. The Claret & Cobalt can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Houston on Sunday, for a full list of playoff scenarios check out MLSsoccer.com. With the loss to L.A. earlier this week RSL’s 2019 home record dropped to 11-4-1 with a +15 goal differential. RSL is 7-2-5 against the Dynamo at home all-time.
Nick Rimando and Tony Beltran, who are both retiring after this season, will both be honored by Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Rimando in pre-game and Beltran at halftime. Stadium Way, which wraps around Rio Tinto Stadium connecting to 9400 south and State Street just north of RioT, was renamed to Rimando Way by Sandy City this week.
3. Houston was eliminated from playoff contention with their 3-1 loss at LAFC Wednesday night. Houston was tied 1-1 with LAFC for 42 minutes before LA found the go-ahead goal and eventual winner in the 70th through Diego Rossi. Mauro Manotas leads Houston with thirteen goals and seven assists, Alberth Elis ha eight goals and six assists, Christian Ramirez has seven goals and three assists, and Romell Quioto has two goals and two assists. The Dynamo has a road record of 2-14-0, their last road win was against Toronto on July 20.