Week 31: Examiner.com's MLS preview, Part I: RSL's two-match week provides a boost

October 13, 9:24 PMMLS ExaminerCharlie Corr

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  AP photo / Yura Movsisyan and RSL have some ground to make up.

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Week 31: Midweek game

• New York Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, ESPN2

With Chivas USA qualifying for the playoffs, Real Salt Lake remains the only team outside of the postseason with an extra game to work with.

RSL hopes to use that to the team's advantage starting Wednesday night when the New York Red Bulls come to Rio Tinto Stadium. The Royals follow that up with a Saturday match at Toronto FC's BMO Field.

A win over the Red Bulls would give Real 37 points and push them to the ninth spot of the race for the playoffs, right under the dividing line that the New England Revolution (38 points) have been desperately clutching onto for a couple weeks now.

RSL still is in search of its first victory against New York (0-4-6 all-time). Real better put an end to that blemish.

Anything but an RSL victory against a team that has zero road wins would be both an embarrassment and would mark the final straw toward a playoff push.

Who knows how much solace we should take in RSL's 1-all draw against Chivas de Guadalajara in an international friendly. That fairly respectable result, Real's 7-1-5 record at home, their league-best 29-11 goals advantage at Rio Tinto ... all of the factors point in RSL's direction.

We've learned quickly enough this season to not hold those on-the-paper numbers to heart. The bottom line is they have to win out just for a shot at the playoffs. Other than an extra game to work with, nothing else plays to their advantage at this point.

WEDNESDAY'S MATCH

• New York Red Bulls (4-18-6) at Real Salt Lake (9-11-7): Winner - Real Salt Lake (Check out New York Soccer Examiner Jeff Kassouf's and Real Salt Lake Examiner Jeffrey Krotosky's coverage.)

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(Prediction record last week: 3-0 with 1 draw. My cumulative record: 60-44 with 43 draws. ***Please note, all draws are actual MLS draws - this forum only decides winners and losers each week.***)

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Charlie Corr is a freelance sports writer based in Chicago. In addition to his Major League Soccer duties, he is the Chicago Sports Examiner and the creator of a Chicago-based soccer Web site, SlideTackles.net.

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