RSL’s postseason hopes come down to one final match on Decision Day, with everything on the line in a “win-and-you’re-in” showdown at St. Louis CITY SC. The chase for a fifth-consecutive MLS Cup Playoffs berth hangs in the balance.
The Claret-and-Cobalt’s quest for a League-best fifth consecutive postseason appearance comes down to “Decision Day,” one final 90-minute battle at Energizer Park against St. Louis CITY SC. A win, and not only does the playoff streak remain intact under Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, who has guided the team to the postseason every year since taking the helm, but the possibility of home-field advantage in the Wednesday, Oct. 22 Western Conference “play-in” game becomes real.
This season’s pursuit of redemption after a rollercoaster campaign riddled with trials and tribulations reaches its culmination on “Decision Day,” where Mastroeni’s squad will discover if the grit and determination shown throughout Mastroeni’s five-season tenure will be enough to secure a spot in the playoffs. Since falling 1-0 at Lumen Field last Saturday at Seattle, everything comes down to this moment.
While a win keeps RSL’s fate firmly in its own hands, there are still outside factors in play. The Claret-and-Cobalt are level on points with rival Colorado, but with 12 wins to the Rapids’ 11, RSL holds the tiebreaker and the edge. Real Salt Lake will return to a more complete lineup on “Decision Day”, welcoming back key contributors Diego Luna (USA), Braian Ojeda (Paraguay), and Zavier Gozo (USA) from international duty.
A closer look at the playoff scenarios ahead of Decision Day can be found below.
Survive and Advance: RSL’s Playoff Mission
The daunting label of “Decision Day” is one no team wants to rely on with its playoff hopes hanging in the balance. For Real Salt Lake, the 2025 season has been far from perfect but under Mastroeni, the squad has shown its trademark “xDAWG” resilience, bouncing back time and again to give itself one final shot at the postseason and a place in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
With three wins in the last six matches, RSL has climbed above the playoff line with just the one game remaining. A critical 1-0 home victory over rival Colorado Rapids two weeks ago not only fueled that push but also gave RSL the head-to-head tiebreaker. Now sitting in ninth place, the Claret-and-Cobalt controls its own destiny. To keep that playoff streak alive and secure a guaranteed play-in spot, RSL needs all three points this Saturday, October 18, in a high-stakes clash in St. Louis.
However, a draw plus other results involving Dallas, Colorado and San Jose could be enough; even a loss in St. Louis isn’t a death knell for playoff hopes, but would require losses from both the Rapids and Earthquakes.
Meanwhile, Colorado faces a daunting challenge of its own, a must-win match against surging LAFC, which has rocketed into the top three thanks in large part to the arrival of global star Son Heung-Min. The South Korean striker has been on a tear, lighting up the league with a flurry of goals. The Rapids, just one spot below RSL in 10th, will need a major upset to stay in the race. But RSL can’t just look behind, it will also be watching the team ahead in eighth, knowing that a win and the right results elsewhere could push the Claret-and-Cobalt even higher in the standings.
FC Dallas currently holds eighth place in the Western Conference, just one point ahead of Real Salt Lake. The Claret-and-Cobalt went 0-1-1 against Dallas this season, falling 1-0 at home on March 22 and drawing 1-1 at Toyota Stadium on May 10, 2025. With RSL sitting just one point behind, a win against St. Louis SC combined with a Dallas slip-up at a top-ranked Vancouver side with something to play for this Saturday, October 18 could see RSL leap into 8th place and secure Wednesday’s critical home-field advantage.
While a win and favorable results elsewhere are essential, the moment also calls for big performances from RSL’s key players. Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, the team’s “Iron Man” and Captain, has stood out as both a leader and elite performer the entire season, playing all 3,420 minutes of 38 games played across three competitions in this 2025 campaign, delivering jaw-dropping saves, including stopping four of eight penalty kicks faced. His presence between the posts will be vital on “Decision Day”.
Meanwhile, midfield starlet Diego Luna returns from international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), bringing his creativity, vision, and energy back into the fold, a massive boost for RSL’s attacking hopes. Paraguay international Braian Ojeda also returns from playing 91 minutes across games away at Japan and South Korea during. The most recent window, while teenage attacker Zavier Gozo has also returned to Utah after a stellar three-week quarterfinal run with the USA U-20s in Chile.
Everything Real Salt Lake has endured throughout the 2025 campaign - the highs, the heartbreaks, and the relentless grind has built toward this decisive weekend. With the postseason on the line, RSL is locked in a tight three-way battle for that final playoff berth. Colorado and Dallas both face attacking juggernauts in their season finales, leaving the door open for the Claret-and-Cobalt to capitalize. With reinforcements returning and belief on its side, all that stands between RSL and the playoffs is 90 minutes and one last shot to finish the job.
A Breakdown of RSL Playoff Scenarios Heading into the Weekend:
Win = Clinch a playoff spot (play on Wed 10/22)
Win + DAL loss or draw = 8th seed secured / Home playoff game on Wed 10/22
Draw + COL loss or draw + SJ loss or draw = Clinch 8th or 9th seed (TBD based on DAL result)
Draw + DAL loss or draw + COL loss or draw + SJ loss or draw = 8th seed secured / Home playoff game on 10/22
Loss =\ ELIMINATED if Colorado wins or draws OR San Jose wins
Crucial Returns Bolster RSL Ahead of Decision Day Duel
Real Salt Lake enters the weekend with everything to play for and a golden opportunity to capitalize on the recent struggles of St. Louis CITY SC. The Missouri side has stumbled down the stretch, losing five of its last eight matches and showing signs of offensive inconsistency. With a playoff berth on the line, RSL will aim to take full advantage.
Though the history between the two is brief, the rivalry between Real Salt Lake and St. Louis CITY SC has begun to tilt in RSL’s favor. After suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat in their first-ever meeting in March, 2023, one of the worst home losses in club history, RSL responded with a 3-1 road win later that same year. In 2024, RSL followed a 1-1 away draw with another convincing 3-1 home victory. Most recently, in 2025, RSL secured a thrilling 3-2 home win on July 5, extending its unbeaten run against St. Louis to four matches. With momentum on its side and history leaning RSL’s way, it will look to write the next chapter in this growing Western Conference clash.
Along with momentum, the Claret-and-Cobalt will be bolstered by the return of key players recently away on international duty. Homegrown talent Gozo is back this week after an impressive run at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with the U.S. Men’s U-20 squad, where he tallied one goal and three assists over five matches, helping lead the team to the quarterfinals before falling 3-1 to Morocco. Gozo has been a relentless presence on the flank for RSL throughout his debut season, using his pace and technical ability to create consistent goal-scoring opportunities. He’s already contributed four goals and two assists for the first team, setting a new standard for teenage goal contributions in the Club’s 21-year history, and will look to make an impact in RSL’s most crucial match of the year.
Real Salt Lake will also be revamped by Ojeda and Luna. Two masters of the midfield with the ability to come up with big stops and get the offense rolling. Ojeda broke out in 2025 scoring five goals thus far - second only to Luna’s 10 - including three Ojeda goals coming in the Leagues Cup stint in August. Returning from the Paraguayan national team’s friendly against South Korea, a match his squad lost 2-0, Ojeda played the full 90 minutes. The return of his long range shooting and composure in the midfield will be a huge gain for RSL’s final playoff push.
Luna, affectionately nicknamed “Moon Man,” returns to his MLS squad after the USMNT’s 2-1 victory in a friendly against Australia on Tuesday, October 14. He had subbed in for an injured Christian Pulisic in the 30th minute and played as the No. 10, or attacking midfielder, for the remainder of the match. With Luna back in the midfield for RSL, he brings not only his shooting firepower but also his creativity and playmaking ability.
The path to the playoffs is clear and ripe for the taking. Under RSL’s boss - who has never missed the postseason - that streak now depends on Decision Day excellence this Saturday. With everything on the line, the opportunity to extend that league- and conference-best record is within reach.
