Real Salt Lake locked up the ninth and final spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a decisive 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night in Sandy, Utah, according to Yahoo Sports. The win eliminated the Galaxy from postseason contention and set up a wild-card matchup against the Seattle Sounders for the RSL squad. Sergi Solans and Zach Booth scored early goals to give the home team a commanding lead before Los Angeles could mount a serious comeback.
The match served as the final game of the regular season, known as Decision Day, where every point mattered for the teams on the bubble. Real Salt Lake finished with a record of 13 wins, 15 losses, and 6 draws, just enough to squeeze past other contenders for the last available berth. The Galaxy, who had won the MLS Cup in 2024, now face the reality of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row after falling to 11 wins, 12 losses, and 11 draws.
Early Goals Seal the Deal
Sergi Solans opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the game, using a pass from Noel Caliskan and a defensive play by Philip Quinton to find the back of the net. This goal marked the 14th time Solans has scored in his first season playing in the league, showing his value to the team. Just three minutes later, rookie midfielder Zach Booth added another goal, making the score 2-0 in favor of Real Salt Lake before the first half ended.
Booth’s goal came without any assists, as the 22-year-old found a way to score in his 18th appearance and seventh start of the season. In his seventh league appearance, Real Salt Lake defender Luc de Fougerolles scored an own goal in the 40th minute, allowing the Galaxy to pull one goal back. Rafael Cabral made one save for Real Salt Lake, while JT Marcinkowski stopped six shots for Los Angeles in a losing effort.
A Historic Season Ends Early for LA
The loss is a bitter pill for the Galaxy, a team that celebrated a MLS Cup victory in 2024 but now faces a dry spell in the postseason. The team has missed the playoffs for the last two seasons, a stark contrast to their recent success on the international stage. Real Salt Lake, on the other hand, has secured a chance to continue their season and fight for a championship title in the upcoming rounds.
The winner of the wild-card match between Real Salt Lake and Seattle will advance to face the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps in a best-of-three first-round series. Seattle clinched their own playoff spot earlier on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC, thanks to a goal by Albert Rusnák just 51 seconds into the game. The Sounders will host the wild-card match at their home stadium, giving them a slight edge as they prepare to take on Real Salt Lake.
The playoff picture is now clear, with the top seven teams in the West moving directly to the first round while the eighth and ninth seeds battle for a chance to stay alive. Real Salt Lake earned their place through a hard-fought victory that eliminated their rival and secured their future in the tournament. The team must now turn their focus to the upcoming match against Seattle to keep their season alive.
The winner of the wild-card match between Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders will play the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps in a best-of-three first-round series.
