RSL looks to clinch playoff berth with win Saturday over Portland

Thanks to Columbus’s win over Chivas USA on Wednesday night, Real Salt Lake will have a shot at clinching a place in the playoffs this weekend.

The Claret-and-Cobalt will lock up a spot in the postseason for the fifth-straight season with a win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium (Kickoff at 6 p.m. MT on NBC Sports Network). RSL is currently in fourth-place in the Western Conference, trailing the third-place L.A. Galaxy by virtue of the goals scored tiebreaker.

It’s vitally important that Real Salt Lake leapfrogs either L.A. or second-place Seattle - which is two points ahead of both RSL and L.A. and holds a game in hand on both sides – and nabs a top-three seed in the West. Finishing fourth would put RSL in a one off elimination game against the West’s fifth-seed, with the winner of that match advancing to the two-game Conference Semifinal series against the conference’s first-seed.

Playing in the 4-v-5 elimination game would make RSL’s road to MLS Cup very difficult, forcing the Claret-and-Cobalt to play seven games in 25 days just to get to the final. While not impossible, advancing through that brutal schedule would be a very tall order. Things would be much easier for RSL if they can grab a spot in the West’s top-three. Make sure you help the team get there by arriving at Rio Tinto Stadium in full voice – and early – for Saturday’s 6 p.m. kick.