Real Salt Lake could clinch playoff spot today

SANDY — In its regular-season finale last year, Real Salt Lake thrashed Colorado to clinch a playoff spot — but only after sweating out a few other matches that went final an hour later.

There isn't nearly as much stress this year.

With five games remaining in the regular season, RSL can clinch a third straight playoff berth tonight by again beating rival Colorado at Rio Tinto Stadium at 8 p.m.

That's not to say the final month of the regular season isn't going to be stressful. The club is still chasing Los Angeles for the best regular-season record, and it still has work to do to qualify out of its group in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Trying to balance both competitions has been mentally and physically draining, but Real Salt Lake continues to get results, thanks to a deep roster.

"We've been saying all year that depth is going to be crucial for our success this year, and we keep proving that time and time again," said Nat Borchers.

RSL will try to show off that quality again with a mix of rested and fatigued players against the Rapids in a match televised on Fox Soccer Channel.

In beating Arabe Unido 3-2 in Panama on Wednesday, RSL did so despite leaving Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert and Andy Williams at home, and playing without injured midfielder Javier Morales.

Morales remains questionable, but the other three should provide fresh legs to a collection of players who played in Central America just a few days earlier.

RSL is three games into what coach Jason Kreis dubbed the most difficult six-game stretch of the season, with six games in 18 days.

The club is 3-0-0 thus far, with a league win over Chicago and a pair of Champions League wins over Toronto and Arabe Unido. After tonight, RSL travels to Toronto for a Tuesday CCL game and then to Boston on Saturday to face the New England Revolution.

The hectic schedule has become status quo for Real Salt Lake, and it's started to take its toll on the quality of soccer.

"I don't think our play has been stellar for a few weeks. I think there's been moments in every game where it's been extremely good, but for the most part, on average, our level of play is down," said Kreis.

The results are coming, though, and don't expect anybody to make excuses anytime soon.

"We're not the type of team to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves or make excuses for being tired," said Ned Grabavoy. "(Tonight's) a big game, and I'm sure everyone wants to play in it."