Playoff Push Begins Now

Now in the second half of the 2019 Major League Soccer season, it’s time for teams to begin their push for the playoffs, Real Salt Lake and New York City FC being no exception.

While City appear to have a playoff spot in the books, they have the opportunity to climb the table and even take the Eastern Conference title home for themselves. Currently sitting in fourth place, NYCFC have four games in hand compared to current leaders Philadelphia Union who sit four points ahead of them.

In order to close the current gap, games like the one they are taking apart of this weekend are must-wins. A mid-table Real Salt Lake shouldn’t be the hardest challenge for City on paper, however, if it goes anything like their latest trip West, it won’t be a walk in the park.

For the hosts, points this weekend are a necessity if they want to move above the playoff line. Holding eighth place at the moment, Real Salt Lake could potentially jump to sixth in the Western Conference depending on the results of FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers.

Mike Petke’s men have a rather tough schedule in their near future. Not only do they host one of the stronger sides in the league on Saturday, but a trip to Kansas City and back to back home games against the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC are on their horizon.

If Real Salt Lake want to secure a playoff position and push for home-field advantage, a positive result against New York City FC would be a great start.