The 2010 Real Salt Lake season was the sixth year of the club's existence. It was also the sixth year for the club in Major League Soccer and the sixth-consecutive year for the club in the top-flight of American soccer.
Real Salt Lake entered the 2010 MLS season as the defending MLS Cup champions, and participated additionally in the CONCACAF Champions League and played play-in propers of the U.S. Open Cup. During 2010, the club had the most success ever in its history, finishing second place in Major League Soccer, as well as becoming the first American-based club to win a Champions League group; in which they won Group A with a 4âÂÂ1âÂÂ1 record. Salt Lake played two play in propers of the Open Cup before eventually falling out against D.C. United.
In the MLS Cup playoffs, Salt Lake was paired against FC Dallas, the eventual Cup runners-up, where the Royals fell 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
Real Salt Lake opened the season with a 3âÂÂ0 road victory against San Jose.<br /> MLS: 1-0-0, 3 points, 3 goals for, 0 goals against
RSL began April with a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Houston, losing after the Dynamo earned two penalty kicks just a minute apart. Upon heading back to Sandy, they played to a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Seattle, with ÃÂlvaro SaborÃÂo scoring the equalizer in second half stoppage time, in front of a full stadium with a crowd over 20,000. A week later, they headed to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy, the team they had defeated on penalty kicks to win MLS Cup 2009. Despite losing 2âÂÂ1, Real became the first team to score on the Galaxy in the 2010 Season, as Los Angeles had shut out their first three opponents. RSL finished April with a 1âÂÂ0 loss to the reigning Supporters' Shield winners, the Columbus Crew.<br /> MLS: 0-3-1, 1 point, 4 goals for, 7 goals against
RSL began with a hard-fought 2âÂÂ1 home victory over Toronto. They then hosted for the first time the new expansion team, Philadelphia, winning 3âÂÂ0. The next week, they defeated Houston, who had beaten them at home in Houston in April, with a decisive 3âÂÂ1 win. Going on the road to Los Angeles to face expansion partners Chivas USA, RSL found victory when Fabián EspÃÂndola scored in the 89th minute for the game-winner in the 2âÂÂ1 win. RSL finished the month with a close 4âÂÂ1 win over Kansas City in Sandy. Both the five-game win streak and the 15-game home unbeaten streak held by RSL at the end of May are franchise-highs.<br /> MLS: 5-0-0, 15 points, 14 goals for, 4 goals against
After a disappointing scoreless draw on the road against D.C. United, RSL returned home to hand Los Angeles their first loss of the season by a score of 1âÂÂ0 on a controversial Javier Morales goal. After a two-week hiatus due to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, RSL drew San Jose 0-0.<br /> MLS: 1-0-2, 5 points, 1 goal for, 0 goals against
July saw Robbie Findley return from World Cup play for Nick Rimando's 100th MLS win â a 5âÂÂ0 drubbing of New England. They took their aggressive playing style on the road, beating the Chicago Fire 1âÂÂ0. Their 10-game unbeaten streak came to an end against FC Dallas at Dallas, followed by a disappointing home draw against Chivas USA. They were back in form against D.C. United, and came away with a 3âÂÂ0 win. <br /> MLS: 3-1-1, 10 points, 10 goals for, 3 goals against
RSL's good fortunes continued in August, as the team went undefeated in league play. The month opened with four games in twelve days â three league games and RSL's first CONCACAF Champions League game. After playing to a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Kansas City at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, RSL paid its first visit to Philadelphia's new PPL Park, earning a point in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with the Union. RSL headed back to Rio Tinto Stadium to face its 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals nemesis Columbus. RSL won the game 2âÂÂ0 on a Morales brace. The team then geared up to begin Group A play in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. RSL defeated Panamanian champions ÃÂrabe Unido in Sandy by a score of 2âÂÂ1 in a wild match that featured over eight minutes of second-half stoppage time. A week later, the team traveled to Estadio Azul to play Mexico's Cruz Azul. Though RSL led 3âÂÂ2 after 87 minutes, a crazy finish left Real empty-handed, falling 5âÂÂ4. The team finished the month with an MLS scoreless affair at BMO Field in Toronto, leaving the team in third place on the table at 40 points with eight league games remaining.<br /> MLS: 1-0-3, 6 points, 4 goals for, 2 goals against; CCL: 1-1-0, 3 points, 6 goals for, 6 goals against
September was another spectacular run for RSL, culminating in qualifying for the MLS Playoffs and the CONCACAF Champion's League quarterfinals.
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Starting XI vs. Colorado on Oct. 23:
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