It’s now or never for the Claret and Cobalt.
With 10 days to rest and refocus following its disheartening last-gasp loss at Houston, Real Salt Lake faces a critical, must-win trip to Panama to face Tauro FC tonight if it hopes to keep alive its chances of advancing in the 2012-13 itineration of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Champions League tournament, one of RSL’s long-standing and oft-stated goals, resumes with Group 2 action at 6 p.m. tonight at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
With three points through its first two matches of the regional competition, Salt Lake can’t afford to fall any further behind Group 2 leader Herediano before the two clubs’ meeting on Sandy on Oct. 23 if it hopes to finish ahead of the Costa Rican champions.
And perhaps just as important is that a win tonight could serve as a springboard as the Utah side returns to Major League Soccer action later this week, perhaps rejuvenating RSL’s sagging table positioning as the final weeks of the MLS season approach.
Getting a result tonight won’t be easy for Real, even more so due to the team missing defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman after he was sent off with a 73rd minute red card of RSL’s 2-0 win in Sandy on Aug. 21.
Line-up changes, however, have been par for the course this season for team boss Jason Kreis, who has dealt with waves of injuries, suspensions and national team call-ups since the season began in March.
With the likely return of Jamison Olave to the line-up tonight and various other injuries healing, does give Kreis a near-complete first choice lineup, aside from making a decision regarding who will start in Beckerman’s place.
Fight to the finish
With five matches in left in the regular season, Real has seen its table position slip on the Western Conference table slip to fourth place, a position it is keen to avoid.
While the top three places get a first-round playoff bye, each conference’s fourth and fifth place teams will play a two-leg aggregate goal series during the bye week, to determine who advances to face the conference champion.
Given the additional matches and travel of Champions League play, Real’s road to a potential MLS Cup title could be imperiled early if it is forced into the first-round series with already weary legs.
The good news, however, for the Utah side is that it holds the cards it needs to improve that position as it faces both Seattle and Los Angeles in the final five matches of the season. The remaining schedule in MLS play puts its postseason positioning hopes firmly in Real Salt Lake’s hands.
You can follow Justin Johnson on Twitter at: @jjohnson801 or email him at justinjohnson801@gmail.com
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