Preview: Real Salt Lake versus Chicago Fire

RSL are clinging to the sixth and final playoff position in the Western Conference while the Fire are likely to go all in on Wednesday’s US Open Cup semifinal even if it means a club-record sixth consecutive loss in the league.

RSL are coming off a disappointing draw at San Jose last week making them winless in their last three matches. They are just 1-8-2 away from Rio Tinto Stadium, but they are a stellar 8-1-2 at Rio Tinto. Currently, RSL are two points clear of Vancouver above the red line. Goal-wise, they have been spreading the wealth with Joao Plata leading the team with six goals and three players—Albert Rusnak, Luis Silva, and Corey Baird—at five.

The Fire have a US Open Cup match on Wednesday at Philadelphia. Chances are that they might field a makeshift lineup with their chances of making the playoffs dwindling and the Open Cup their only way to save some face this season. They did the same thing before their quarterfinal—essentially sacrificing their match at FC Dallas before defeating Louisville in the Cup. That said, no player who started for the Fire in that Dallas match made a case for more playing time. For some, this may be both a second and last chance.

One thing the Fire can definitely work on is not allowing so many goals. They have conceded 15 in their last five matches—all losses.