A struggling Real Salt Lake side faces the best in the West for a second time this year.
Real Salt Lake is back home on Saturday. The Claret and Cobalt host the West-Leading Vancouver Whitecaps in a Saturday Night showdown at America First Field. Last time these two sides faced, the Whitecaps won 2-1. The game had some controversy and plenty of drama, but it was the ‘Caps who ultimately came out on top. RSL has a chance to get back to winning ways after being winless in seven of their last eight matches.
Real Salt Lake needs a game where they can bounce back. It has been a rough few weeks, including a 1-0 loss to Colorado last Saturday. RSL has shown they can win, but the results just haven’t been there. RSL has a lack of goalscorers and it shows.
Quite interestingly, though, the Whitecaps and RSL have scored a lot on each other. The last five meetings have ended 2-1, with RSL winning the first four in that stretch. Real Salt Lake and Vancouver have switched roles in 2025, with the Canadian side being a force in the West and RSL slumping near the bottom of the table. It has not been RSL’s year and the Claret and Cobalt will be looking to turn it around.
Of course, soccer does have ways of surprising us. As we have seen through the years, wins in soccer are never guaranteed. RSL can win this game, and it may just take one goal. A single goal can change the trajectory of an entire match, causing a sudden momentum swing. Just look at the match in San Diego. RSL was tied 1-1 going into the second half, and it seemed pretty even. A 54th-minute penalty goal from Diego Luna swung the momentum in RSL’s favor, and RSL dominated.
What I am trying to say is that soccer is never predictable. Anyone can beat anyone, and MLS is the best example of this. If RSL finds a way to score a goal, it could open the floodgates and give RSL a positive momentum swing. Table positions are forgotten when the whistle blows to start the game, and all the focus is on the current match. Otherwise, one team risks collapsing, regardless of whether it is the better or worse team. Soccer is a fast-paced and energetic sport, so don’t be surprised when momentum suddenly shifts.
Real Salt Lake is good at creating counterattacking chances and showed some skill earlier in the season. RSL scored their best counterattacking goals against Seattle and Houston and have had some more chances. The chances have been created, but the finishing isn’t there. The Claret and Cobalt rely too much on Diego Luna and need to start finding other ways to score, especially when Luna is available.
Keys to the match against Vancouver
- Stay calm and work as a team: RSL is a good team and can make magic happen. The Claret and Cobalt are at their best when they are working together and being patient. The goals will come and the players need to play smart.
- Start on the front foot: RSL can score fast. They did it against Houston, and they won. Even if RSL doesn’t get an early goal, creating strong chances early will give them confidence and get the home crowd energized.
- Don’t get caught in transition: RSL has conceded several goals in transition. If they can be smart with the ball and limit Vancouver’s transition, while creating transition chances for themselves, they could win this game.
RSL has a tough test ahead of them. Vancouver is a high-scoring team. RSL will need to be stout defensively and be patient in attack. RSL will have to stay calm, start on the front foot, and dominate the transition to win this match.
