Real Salt Lake welcomed the Portland Timbers to Rio Tinto Stadium for Decision Day knowing it needed a win to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. A 3-0 rout secured the victory and sent Pablo Mastroeni’s side to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
RSL opened the scoring thanks to a spectacular finish from Jefferson Savarino before 20 minutes had been played. The Venezuelan collected a pass outside the box and skipped past his defender to have a sight at goal. Immediately, he opened his hips and caressed his shot around a Portland defender and past the keeper into the side netting.
That man @QSavarino10 puts the hosts ahead 1-0 with a huge goal.#RSL // #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/3aYIxxaVQG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 9, 2022
A second goal, courtesy of Rubio Rubín, put RSL firmly in the driver's seat as Portland continued to struggle. 20-year-old Bode Davis scored the third, putting the nail in the coffin for a Timbers side that never truly showed up.
One step closer to the @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 9, 2022
Bode Hidalgo makes it 3-0 and surely @RealSaltLake are headed to the postseason now!#RSL // #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/io9GLWukVL
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 9, 2022
Portland managed to get a consolation goal just before full-time, but the result was all but guaranteed at that point.
Back again. @realsaltlake are headed to the @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/i6kxrrjCUH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 9, 2022
RSL’s first win since Aug. 31 ensured that the Timbers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. With the win, RSL grabs the seventh and final spot in the West and faces the second seed, Austin FC, in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.
