RSL, four points out of a playoff spot, hosts San Jose and Bruce Arena
Six matches remain for Real Salt Lake, which faces the coach who managed Pablo Mastroeni at the 2002 World Cup as Ari Piol returns early from a torn Achilles.
Real Salt Lake hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at America First Field in Sandy on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with six matches left and four points separating it from a postseason spot, KSL Sports reported. [1]
RSL (9-14-5) is 12th in the Western Conference with 32 points, four behind ninth-place LA Galaxy. Ninth place earns a play-in match. San Jose (13-8-7) is fourth with 46 points and unbeaten in seven straight after coach Bruce Arena switched to a three-center-back formation in late August. [1]
Arena coached RSL's Pablo Mastroeni on the U.S. national team, including at the 2002 World Cup. San Jose's leading scorer is Preston Judd with 15 goals, and the club also features former German international Timo Werner. [1] RSL's own match preview listed the club at 9-14-5 with 32 points, 12th in the West, and San Jose at 13-8-7 with 46 points, with six regular-season games left. [2]
RSL lost 2-1 at Philadelphia on Saturday but got back Zach Booth and Ari Piol, who returned about two months ahead of schedule from an Achilles rupture suffered in February. "It's no secret we're not where we wanna be," Piol said. Saba Lobjanidze, who has scored three goals in his last six appearances, told KSL he is "100%" sure RSL will win. [1]
Sources
- KSL Sports: Student meets master as Real Salt Lake hosts resurgent San Jose Earthquakes sports.ksl.com
- Real Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake Returns Home Wednesday To Host San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 12, 2026) rsl.com
This story was written by AI from the report by KSL Sports, which has the full story. How we write stories.