So Close, Yet So Far For Real Salt Lake

November 9, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman (5) heads the ball against Los Angeles Galaxy during the first half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Cassar’s Real Salt Lake had a year that was commendable but could have been better in terms of consistency and postseason performance. 2014 ended for RSL at the hands of their main nemesis, Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy, in the worst MLS Cup Playoffs defeat in their 10-year history. The silver lining to all this is that they can still qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League next year but the catch is that the Galaxy or Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders.

2014 started off strong for Real Salt Lake. Between Mar. 8 and May 24, RSL had a 6-0-6 record, with no defeats through 12 games. Notable victories included win over Los Angeles (1-0, Mar. 8), Portland (1-0, Apr. 19), and Houston (5-2, May 11). However, the wheels would fall off for a time starting in the last week of May.

Between May 31 and Jul. 12, RSL went 1-4-2. They suffered their worst defeat of the season, a 4-0 shutout loss to the Sounders at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. on May 31. They also fell to Portland 3-1 on Jun 7, the now-defunct Chivas USA 1-0 on Jun. 28 and the Galaxy 1-0. Real Salt Lake, however, would rebound late in summer.

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Between July 19 and Aug. 16, RSL went 4-0-2, with huge wins against Montreal (3-1, Jul. 24) and D.C. United (3-0, Aug. 9). A 2-1 loss to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex. on Aug. 22 would snap their six-game unbeaten streak and cause RSL to fall off the pace in early auturm,

From Aug. 22 through Oct. 5, Real Salt Lake went 2-4-1, becoming one of a few teams to lose a season series with Chivas USA on Oct. 5 at the Home Depot Center. The silver lining to this stretch was that RSL won the Rocky Mountain Cup with a 5-1 rout of Pablo Mastroeni’s Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

RSL did finish October strong, entering the MLS Cup Playoffs on a three-game unbeaten streak with wins over the San Jose Earthquakes (2-0, Oct. 11) and Chivas USA (2-0, Oct. 22). On Nov. 1 in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, Real Salt Lake secured a scoreless draw with the Galaxy. But on Nov. 9, the Galaxy pasted Real Salt Lake to the tune of 5-0 in a performance that summed up their shortcomings this year.

Real Salt Lake’s 56 points is the second highest in club history, while its 54 goals forwarded is also the second highest in club history. RSL’s defense will be going through some massive changes in the offseason because this has determined their year more than anything. A number of players that the MLS Multiplex believes will be picked up by the likes of New York City FC or Orlando City include Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy, Tony Beltran and Robbie FIndley. Javier Morales might be downgraded to a super sub, while Joao Plata’s star is rising and will most likely be retained, along with Kyle Beckerman, Nat Borchers, Nick Rimando and Alvaro Saborio.

But perhaps the biggest question RSL may have is the future of its general manager, Garth Lagerwey. His contract expires at the end of the year, and with RSL only winning a single MLS Cup and falling short in the CONCACAF Champions League final, this year might be his last.

“Although I would tell you that money’s not going to decide anything, money will be a factor,” Lagerwey told the Salt Lake Tribune. “Mr. [Dell Loy] Hansen’s got plenty of money. I don’t see that being the deciding factor in this one, honestly, don’t believe it was with Jason. Don’t think it will be with me. It’s opportunity, it’s career, it’s what puts me on the best path going forward, understanding that in a lot of ways, there’s a lot of positives here.”

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