One thing is clear about Utah, they love soccer. From the grassroots level, through high school and college, and up to the professional level. Real Salt Lake is no exception, filling America First Field day in and day out, creating an energetic atmosphere that makes visiting teams afraid to play here. Mix that with 4,450 feet of elevation and RSL has one of the best home-field advantages in MLS.
With a 13-8-6 record, the Claret and Cobalt are looking like a real contender for the MLS Cup. Led by Manager Pablo Mastroeni and the red-hot Cristian “Chicho” Arango, Real is looking like the best team in quite a while. With seven games remaining in the club’s 2024 regular season schedule, wins are a must if this team is to compete for their second MLS Cup.
Real Salt Lake this season has had a very interesting season. After a couple rough defeats against Miami and Colorado, the club went on a record fifteen-match unbeaten streak. The streak was full of big wins such as a 5-1 thrashing of Austin FC at home. There were also big comebacks such as the 1-1 draw in Seattle or the match in Dallas where RSL came from three goals down to take a point at the death. One thing is certain, this RSL side is special. If they can continue to score goals while cleaning up their defensive woes, the Claret and Cobalt could be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s playoffs.
Looking at RSL’s remaining seven games, including four home matches, three games jump out at me. The first one is the away match in Houston on September 14th. RSL got the best of the Dynamo in July during the regular season, besting the Texas side 3-2 in Sandy. The Dynamo then bested RSL in the Leagues Cup, knocking RSL out of the tournament with a score of 3-0. RSL will look to avenge the Cup loss and sweep the regular season series.
The second game that I have highlighted is the home match against Portland. The Timbers beat down RSL 3-0 in the Rose City, a match that ended with Chicho Arango being suspended for four matches. Pablo and his men will be looking to settle the score and get even with a Timbers side that tore RSL’s backline apart in July.
The final match that I am looking at is the road match in San Jose. The Earthquakes stunned RSL with a 2-0 win at America First Field. The Earthquakes are in last place in the MLS but seem to be on a surge. RSL hopes to get even with the California side and return the favor.
Overall, the future looks bright for the Claret and Cobalt. With Pablo Mastroeni at the helm, and 20,213 RSL fans making America First Field a fortress, RSL could be a real power this season and the next. The royal legacy of Utah’s soccer team will continue brightly.
