Real Salt Lake’s Corey Baird, back, and Damir Kreilach celebrate Kreilach’s goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
James Edward
By James Edward
James has been covering high school sports in Utah for the Deseret News for three decades.

Decision Day turned out to be a perfect day for Real Salt Lake.

It started with RSL taking care of business at Vancouver with the 1-0 victory, and then with two other favorable results Sunday it ends the season as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference to secure a home playoff game in the first round.

“Some scary moments there at the end. We knew we were going to get some flurry from the opponent and it came there toward the end, but we handled it well.” — RSL interim head coach Freddy Juarez

“It’s awesome, especially with the way the season went with all the ups and downs and all the stuff that went on too, it feels good to have a home game, and for Freddy (Juarez), it feels good to do that for him,” said RSL defender Justen Glad said in a postgame interview with KMYU.

Real Salt Lake will host No. 6 seed Portland in the first round Saturday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. MT.

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Vancouver Whitecaps' Andy Rose (15) and Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach vie for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Michaell Chirinos, front left, and Real Salt Lake's Aaron Herrera collide during the first half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, British Columbia Sunday Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach (8) gets his head on the ball and scores a goal as Vancouver Whitecaps' Doneil Henry (2) defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Corey Baird, back, and Damir Kreilach celebrate Kreilach's goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Nedum Onuoha (14) reacts to the referee as Vancouver Whitecaps' Derek Cornelius (13) clears the ball away while Andy Rose (15) and Ali Adnan, right, watch during the first half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, British Columbia Sunday Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, left, who is retiring at the end of the season, celebrates with teammate Damir Kreilach after playing in his last regular-season MLS soccer game, a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Doneil Henry, front, and Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Corey Baird, back, and Damir Kreilach celebrate Kreilach's goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, front left, who is retiring at the end of the season, leaves the field after playing in his last regular-season MLS soccer game, a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Georges Mukumbilwa, left, and Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach vie for the ball during second-half MLS soccer game action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Georges Mukumbilwa, left, and Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach vie for the ball during second-half MLS soccer game action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Fredy Montero, center, vies for the ball against Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman, left, and Nedum Onuoha, right, during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Fredy Montero vie for the ball during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Michaell Chirinos, left, and Real Salt Lake's Justen Glad vie for the ball during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who is retiring at the end of the season, leaves the field at halftime during his last regular-season MLS soccer game, a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Derek Cornelius, left, and Michaell Chirinos react after a Vancouver shot went off the goalpost and stayed out of the Real Salt Lake goal during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Theo Bair, front left, passes the ball as Real Salt Lake's Donny Toia defends during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando makes a save against the Vancouver Whitecaps during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Michaell Chirinos traps a pass with his foot during second-half MLS soccer action against Real Salt Lake in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Derek Cornelius (13) and Erik Godoy, back left, react after a Vancouver shot went off the goalpost and stayed out of the Real Salt Lake goal during second-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Fredy Montero holds the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot Award after being presented with it for being the MLS soccer team's leading goal scorer for the season, following the team's MLS soccer match against Real Salt Lake in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Russell Teibert walks onto the field before an MLS soccer game against Real Salt Lake in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando wipes his eye during second-half MLS soccer action against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Andy Rose vie for the ball during first-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach, right, reacts to a tackle by Vancouver Whitecaps' Andy Rose, back center, as Whitecaps' Michaell Chirinos, left, watches during first-half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Real Salt Lake's Damir Kreilach, back right, celebrates his goal with teammates Albert Rusnak, back left, Aaron Herrera (22) and Jefferson Savarino (7) during first-half MLS soccer action against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
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Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau reaches for the ball after it bounced off the goalpost during first-half MLS soccer action against Real Salt Lake in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) | Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP

With the shutout win, RSL finishes the season with 53 points and 41 goals allowed, the fewest goals conceded by the club since the 2014 season.

The 41 goals allowed is also the third fewest in MLS in 2019, behind only league-leading Los Angeles FC and D.C. United.

Damir Kreilach scored the only goal in Vancouver in the 28th minute as he headed a cross from Corey Baird straight down and through the legs of Vancouver’s keeper for the early 1-0 lead.

Albert Rusnak nearly doubled the lead in the first half, but his deflected shot hit the post, and then Jefferson Savarino’s rebound shot went high and wide.

In the second half, Nick Rimando came up with two acrobatic saves to preserve the shutout, his 10th of the season and the 12th for the team.

“Some scary moments there at the end. We knew we were going to get some flurry from the opponent and it came there toward the end, but we handled it well,” Juarez said in his postgame interview with KMYU.

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Juarez’s record at the helm of RSL after taking over for Mike Petke was 7-4-2, which includes snapping a six-game losing streak at Vancouver.

Portland won’t be an easy matchup for Real Salt Lake. The Timbers won both meetings each of the past two seasons, including a 2-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium back on May 4.

That match came early in the season, and over the second half of the season RSL has been one of the best teams in MLS, with a 10-5-4 record since the CONCACAF Gold Cup break back in early June.

Portland closed the season with a disappointing 3-4-3 record, but it did end the season with a 3-1 win against San Jose and should feel very confident at Rio Tinto Stadium considering its past success. 

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