Prediction: Western Conference Playoff Spots

Fourth Place: Real Salt Lake

RSL has been a solid team this year. After finishing 9th in the Western Conference last year, they currently sit in 3rd place in the West, tied for points with 4th place LA Galaxy. RSL, though, also has played 2 games more than Colorado and LA and similarly to what I said about Dallas, these 2 games will be very important going into the end of the regular season.

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So what has improved since last year? The 2015 RSL team conceded 48 goals, while only scoring 38, giving themselves a -10 goal differential overall which was tied for worst in the Western Conference with Colorado. So far the 2016 RSL team has scored 35 goals while letting it 34. So even though they are on pace to probably let in the same amount of goals as they did last year, RSL’s attack has hit its stride. Yura Movsisyan, acquired as a DP on loan from Spartak Moscow back in January, has been that difference maker, scoring 7 MLS goals so far this season in his 20 appearances.  He hasn’t scored since the 9th of July against Montreal and since then RSL has only won 2 games in the last 9. I believe that Movsisyan will find his goal scoring rhythm again and help RSL slot coolly into 4th by the end of October.

Next: Fifth Place