Needing points against a struggling – albeit second place – Austin FC side on the road, Real Salt Lake imploded in the second half, a result that could leave them on the wrong side of the playoff line.
The match got off to a quick start for the home side, with Austin nearly scoring just five minutes in.
However, RSL recovered, being the creative, more attacking side for the remainder of the first half and having more quality chances on goal. Unfortunately, they were never able to put one in the back of the net, which has been a constant issue for the team not only this season but in past ones as well.
While the halftime whistle blew and the score was still 0-0, RSL had to feel as though the momentum and the best chances had slipped away.
Austin came out in the second half and looked much more like they wanted to end a three-match losing streak and clinch a playoff berth in front of a sold-out crowd.
Then in the 58th minute, the home team made a substitution that drastically altered the match. On came Moussa Djitté, and just two minutes later he gave Austin the 1-0 advantage.
Real then began to unravel, just like the many previous times this season. Djitté added a second goal in the 76th minute and completed his 20-minute hat trick just four minutes later for the 3-0 win.
Even though RSL had more total shots (17-14), shots on goal (6-3), possession (56-44), and corner kick chances (10-3), they were still humiliated in the second half and shut out yet again.
Thoughts
RSL looked completely lost and seemed to throw in the towel once they fell behind, specifically after allowing the second goal.
Look, I understand that sometimes teams just aren’t good. But this is the same club that made a surprise run to the conference final last season with a lot of the same roster. They also were in the top half of the table for basically the entire first half of this season. Now they’ve won only three of their last 15 games and are basically at the point where they’re hoping other teams lose matches so they get into the playoffs not on their own merit.
After a 0-0 draw at home to last-place D.C. United, Zach MacMath said in his postgame remarks that “It’s disappointing at this point” that they aren’t getting the full three points.
As a fan though, it’s often beyond disappointing to watch this team. They can’t score goals, can’t defend, and play with no desire, and then we hear the same excuses every time. I honestly have lost count of how many times I’ve turned on a match this season alone, only to turn it off immediately after they allow a goal and fall behind because I know what the result will be. Another loss, more excuses, and another season finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack, nowhere near contending for another MLS Cup.
I honestly hope that this year’s team misses the playoffs and learns something from blowing a playoff berth they had secured for 90 percent of the season. Because even if they do make it in, they’re one-and-done with a first-round shutout loss anyways. Why even bother?
Instead have a failure of a season and learn something from it. Get rid of players that don’t cut it and bring in fresh faces. Fire some people, I don’t know. Maybe spend some of that America First naming rights money on something useful in an actual attempt to win silverware, not to just be the seventh-seeded playoff team.
Because as a fan, I’m tired of supporting mediocrity, and I know I’m not the only one.
Up next
With only three matches remaining, RSL hosts FC Cincinnati next. The match will take place on Saturday, Sep. 17, and kicks off at 7:30 p.m. The match can be seen on KMYU or the KSL TV app.
