The 2014 Real Salt Lake season was the team's tenth year of existence and also the first year with new head coach Jeff Cassar. The team's first game was on March 8 at StubHub Center.
Background
In 2013 Real Salt Lake played in the MLS Cup final, losing in the tenth round of penalty kicks to Sporting Kansas City.RSL drops MLS Cup 2013 after heartbreaking PK shootout, published: 7 December 2013; retrieved: 22 April 2014 Real Salt Lake also announced that LifeVantage would be a long-term sponsor beginning in the 2014 Season.RSL partners with LifeVantage for jersey-front beginning in 2014 , published: 29 October 2013; retrieved: 22 April 2014 Additionally, long term head coach, Jason Kreis announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season to embark on an opportunity to become the first coach for New York City FC to start in the 2015 season.Real Salt Lake: Coach Jason Kreis officially leaves RSL to become the new coach of New York City FC, published: 10 December 2013; retrieved: 22 April 2014 Other changes to the staff including Miles Joseph who left to assist Kreis in New York and C. J. Brown returned to his former club, Chicago Fire Soccer Club, to serve as assistant coach.As Real Salt Lake coaching staff shifts, assistant CJ Brown returns to Chicago Fire, published: 11 December 2013; retrieved: 22 April 2014 Jeff Cassar was promoted to be the head coach beginning in the 2014 season.Real Salt Lake: RSL tabs Jeff Cassar as new head coach in place of Jason Kreis, published: 18 December 2013; retrieved: 22 April 2014
Overview
March Real Salt Lake began the season away to LA Galaxy on 8 April 2014 and won their first match of the season. Nick Rimando was awarded the first week Player of the Week after a nine-save performance helping to secure the win. Additionally, Rimando was voted for MLS Save of the Week and named for MLS Team of the Week along with defender Nat Borchers for week one. Real Salt Lake continued to remain unbeaten throughout the month with draws at San Jose (3–3) and the home opener to LA Galaxy (1–1), and a three-nil home win to Toronto FC which saw Álvaro Saborío, Javier Morales, and Nat Borchers named to the MLS team of the Week for week four. Captain Kyle Beckerman was also awarded MLS Goal of the Week for his 25-yard shot against San Jose that earned him nearly 50 percent of the votes.
April RSL continued their unbeaten run through the month with draws away to Sporting Kansas City (0–0) and Philadelphia Union (2–2), and home against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2–2). Real Salt Lake also had a single home win over Portland Timbers (1–0), to bring the tally to eleven consecutive matches unbeaten against the Timbers. Real Salt Lake also were honored by being awarded the "Team of the Year" in the Utah Governor's State of Sport awards, as well as awards to Kyle Beckerman for "Male Professional Athlete of the Year", and Nick Rimando was awarded for "Highlight of the Year" for their accomplishments in the 2013 season.Real Salt Lake honored at Utah Governor's State of Sport Awards, published: 23 April 2014; retrieved: 28 April 2014
Luis Gil was called up to the U-21 US National Team for the pre-Olympic Training Camp, but backed out to recover from a lingering hamstring injury.Real Salt Lake MF Luis Gil to Miss US Under-21 National Team Camp, published: 21 April 2014; retrieved: 28 April 2014. Defender Carlos Salcedo additionally was called up to train with the Mexico U-21 National Team to prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympics.Salcedo's international call continues a long family tradition, published: 16 April 2014; retrieved: 28 April 2014. RSL Arizona Academy graduate Justen Glad was offered a Homegrown Player contract and became the seventh academy graduate to join the first team. Real also announced a new Under-12 Academy to be based in Utah with graduates being promoted to the RSL Arizona Academy.Real Salt Lake to start academy program in Utah, published: 24 April 2014, retrieved: 28 April 2014.
May Real Salt Lake continued their unbeaten run to tie the MLS record for an unbeaten start of the season, tying with 1996 and 2010 LA Galaxy and 2000 Kansas City Wizards. RSL suffered their first defeat the final day of the month when they lost away to Seattle Sounders. Forward Álvaro Saborío was named to the Costa Rica World Cup Roster, and Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and Goalkeeper Nick Rimando were called up to the United States men's national soccer team and departed to train with their respective teams in preparation for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup,Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando named to US's final World Cup roster Published: May 22, 2014; Retrieved: June 9, 2014 although Saborío returned after fracturing his fifth metatarsal in training.Alvaro Saborio to miss World Cup due to fractured fifth metatarsal Published: May 29, 2014; Retrieved: June 9, 2014 Jordan Allen was ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing a microfracture surgery to his right knee.RSL MF Jordan Allen out for season after undergoing successful microfracture surgery Published: May 22, 2014; Retrieved: June 9, 2014
Joao Plata won the MLS Player of the Week for week nine after his two-goal performance against Chicago Fire Soccer Club. Javier Morales scored the second fasted goal in RSL history with his first goal finding the net fifteen seconds into the match.Recap: RSL 5–2 Houston Dynamo Published: May 11, 2014; Retrieved: June 9, 2014 Javi also got his first hat-trick for Real Salt Lake in the team's first ever win away to FC Dallas. In Nick Rimando's absence, Jeff Attinella won the MLS Save of the Week for Week 11 with a double save in the win against Colorado Rapids.
Competitions
Preseason
Matches
Desert Diamond Cup
Standings
Matches
MLS regular season
Standings
Western Conference
Overall table Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, and 2015 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying to the playoffs
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
Legend::
Schedule Updated: February 2, 2014 Source: Real Salt Lake Schedule
MLS Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Semifinal
U.S. Open Cup
Kickoff times are in MDT
Friendlies
Club
Roster As of April 8, 2014. Age calculated as of the start of the 2014 season.
No.PositionPlayerNationAgeAcquired 1 GK Lalo Fernández (HGP) February 24, 2012 2 DF Tony Beltran January 18, 2008 3 DF Kwame Watson-Siriboe June 27, 2012 4 DF Aaron Maund December 3, 2012 5 MF Kyle Beckerman (C) July 16, 2007 6 DF Nat Borchers February 14, 2008 7 MF Jordan Allen (HGP) December 13, 2013 8 FW Joao Plata January 30, 2013 10 FW Robbie Findley January 16, 2013 11 MF Javier Morales (DP) August 17, 2007 12 MF Cole Grossman November 12, 2012 13 FW Olmes García February 21, 2013 14 DF Justen Glad (HGP) April 4, 2014 15 FW Álvaro Saborío (DP) March 15, 2010 16 DF Carlos Salcedo (HGP) January 15, 2013 17 DF Chris Wingert July 13, 2007 18 GK Nick Rimando February 23, 2007 19 MF Luke Mulholland January 21, 2014 20 MF Ned Grabavoy March 3, 2009 21 MF Luis Gil (GA) February 23, 2010 22 FW Benji Lopez (HGP) July 17, 2013 23 FW Sebastián Jaime August 8, 2014 24 GK Jeff Attinella December 23, 2012 25 DF Rich Balchan March 2, 2013 26 MF Sebastián Velásquez January 12, 2012 27 MF John Stertzer January 17, 2013 28 DF Chris Schuler January 14, 2010 29 DF Abdoulie Mansally June 20, 2012 49 FW Devon Sandoval January 17, 2013
Transfers
In #Position Player Previous clubFees/Notes DateSource7 Real Salt Lake – Arizona AcademyGraduate, Home Grown Player19 Tampa Bay RowdiesUndisclosedReal Salt Lake signs midfielder Luke Mulholland 23 California Golden BearsFirst round MLS SuperDraft Pick (18th overall)Real Salt Lake selects DF Ryan Neil in first round of 2014 MLS SuperDraft Georgetown HoyasThird round MLS SuperDraft Pick (53rd overall)Real Salt Lake picks two in final rounds of 2014 MLS SuperDraft Coker CollegeFourth round MLS SuperDraft Pick (70th overall)14 Real Salt Lake – Arizona AcademyHome Grown PlayerReal Salt Lake signs Justen Glad to Homegrown contract , retrieved 8 April 201423 Unión EspañolaUndisclosedReal Salt Lake signs Argentine FW Sebastian Jaime , published: 8 August 2014; retrieved: 21 September 2014
Out #Position Player Next ClubFees/Notes DateSource7 Chicago FireTraded for Allocation MoneyLovel Palmer traded to Chicago Fire for allocation money23 San Jose EarthquakesReleased to MLS Re-Entry DraftSoccer: Real Salt Lake declines options on four players23 San Jose EarthquakesNot signed after being picked in the MLS SuperdraftSan Jose Earthquakes Add Rookie Defenders Joe Sofia, Cal’s Ryan Neil44 Ljungskile SKReleased to MLS Re-Entry Draft45Released to MLS Re-Entry Draft19 Carolina RailHawksWaivedEnzo Martinez waived with no first-team appearances Carolina RailHawksNot signed after being picked in the MLS SuperdraftRailHawks sign Forward Daniel Jackson, retrieved: 7 April 2014 Arizona United Released3 New York City FCTrade for 2016 MLS 4th Round Super-Draft PickReal Salt Lake trades Kwame Watson-Siriboe to NYCFC in exchange for 2016 SuperDraft pick, retrieved: 21 September 2014; published: 11 August 2014
Loans
In #Position Player Loaned ToFees/Notes DateSource
Out #Position Player Loaned ToFees/Notes DateSource14 Orlando CityLoaned for 2014 season and Trade for 2015 for 2017 4th Round Super-Draft Pick25 Carolina RailHawksShort-term loan to regain fitness – Real Salt Lake: RSL takes aim at the Houston hex, published: 7 May 2014, retrieved: 7 May 20143 Orange County Blues FCShort-term loan to regain fitness.Schuler out, Maund in for RSL after knock against Chicago Fire, published: 11 May 2014, retrieved: 18 May 201422 Arizona United SCLoaned for 2014 USL PRO seasonArizona United Soccer Club adds Lopez on loan from Real Salt Lake published: 30 May 2014; retrieved: 2 June 2014 Note: Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Benji Lopez have both played matches with RSL Reserves while on loan away from Real Salt Lake
Coaching and technical staff
Kits
Type Shirt Shorts Socks First appearance / Info Home Claret with Gold Bar / Cobalt sleeves Claret Claret 8 March at LA Galaxy Away White / Cobalt right sleeve White White 15 March at San Jose Earthquakes
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Source: Real Salt Lake Statistics
Individual awards The MLS Player of the Week, Month, and Year is awarded by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) and decided by vote.North American Soccer Reporters
Weekly awards
WeekPlayer of the WeekTeam of the WeekSave of the WeekGoal of the Week1 Nick RimandoReal Salt Lake's Nick Rimando wins Week 1's Player of the Week with stellar showing vs. LA Galaxy Published: March 10, 2014; Retrieved: March 10, 2014 Nick RimandoTeam of the Week (Wk 1): Dominant performances abound, but only 11 can make the final squad Published: March 10, 2014; Retrieved: March 10, 2014 Nat Borchers Nick RimandoNick Rimando captures first 2014 MLS Save of the Week award with clutch penalty kick stop Published: MARCH 14, 2014; Retrieved: March 16, 20142 Nick RimandoReal Salt Lake's Nick Rimando claims second Save of the Week honor of 2014 Published: March 21, 2014; Retrieved: March 23, 2014 Kyle BeckermanReal Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman runs away with AT&T MLS Goal of the Week honors Published: March 21, 2014; Retrieved: March 23, 20144 Álvaro SaboríoTeam of the Week (Wk 4): Real Salt Lake stars lead the way in huge win over Toronto FC Published: March 31, 2014; Retrieved: April 8, 2014 Javier Morales Nat Borchers Jeff Cassar (coach)5 Jeff AttinellaTeam of the Week (Wk 5): USMNTers lead way in goal-filled weekend Published: April 7, 2014; Retrieved: April 8, 2014