Real Salt Lake's playoff push begins with Texas trip

With expectations as high as they were heading into Real Salt Lake's season-opener back in April, the players are as surprised as anyone about the team's current predicament. If the Major League Soccer playoffs began today, RSL would not be involved.

Real Salt Lake is tied with Toronto for ninth place in MLS, and at the moment doesn't figure into the eight-team playoff picture. To change its fortune, the team likely needs nine more points over its final five matches.

Three of those last five matches are on the road, which complicates things for one of the worst road teams in MLS. The treacherous quest starts with a pair of matches in Texas, beginning with Houston this Saturday and wrapping up in Dallas the following Saturday.

Two victories in Texas would put RSL on the playoff doorstep knowing it needs one more victory in three October matches. One victory would keep RSL on pace for a postseason berth, assuming it wins its final two home games. If it goes winless in Texas, it would have no choice but to win its final three matches.

"I don't think we're going to put that kind of pressure on ourselves," said defender Nat Borchers. "We do want to come out and have two good performances on the road. The first one is significant in that it's against quite possibly the best team in the league."

RSL has tied Houston twice this year, and was in great position to claim the full three points. Similar scenarios have played out in other matches. The coming weeks provide an opportunity for Real Salt Lake to make amends for early season disappointments, but it absolutely must start with a good showing in Texas.

The schedule is favorable after that. It hosts New York on Oct. 14, travels to Toronto on Oct. 17, then hosts Colorado on Oct. 24. New York is the worst team in MLS, and Toronto and Colorado are battling RSL for playoff spots.

If things play out the way RSL hopes, its playoff chances will likely come down to a do-or-die, regular-season finale with Colorado. That's what happened last year, and RSL punched its ticket to the playoffs with a road draw.

This year's finale is at Rio Tinto Stadium, which should give RSL the advantage if the match proves to be meaningful.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com