March 1, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Real Salt Lake News Release
HERRIMAN, Utah – In conjunction with both U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake (0-1-1, 1 pts, MLS 9th West) confirms its participation in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, one of eight (8) MLS sides entering the 111-year old tourney at the Round of 32 stage, which will kick off May 6/7. Specific dates, times, opponent and venue will be determined as the tournament results proceed, along with pairing draws after each round.
RSL earned selection as a non-CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifier based on the 2023 MLS Supporters Shield standings, alongside Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, LAFC, San Jose and Seattle. While Houston is currently engaged in its continental pursuits, as the Open Cup defending champion it will also participate in 2024.
Last season, RSL advanced to the USOC Semifinal Round, where it lost 3-1 at the Dynamo in 120-minutes of extra time, while previously winning road matches at Las Vegas (3-1 AET), at Portland (4-3) and at Colorado (1-0), as well as a home Quarterfinal against LA Galaxy (3-2).
2023 OPEN CUP REVIEW: RSL’s “road warrior” mentality emblematic of the 2023 season was galvanized in part by the Club’s Open Cup run, which saw the team experience various forms of drama: a 120-minute war of attrition in Las Vegas, multiple comebacks on the Portland turf against the rival Timbers, a tense Rocky Mountain Cup victory just three days after a comfortable regular-season win in same venue against the Rapids, all prior to a home win that saw a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes remaining cut not once but twice against the visiting Galaxy … In the road Semifinal at Houston – with RSL just a result away from hosting Lionel Messi & Inter Miami CF in Sandy for the first time ever in the LHUSOC Final – the Claret-and-Cobalt conceded first and overcame the absence of metronome Pablo Ruiz to get to the 105th minute tied at 1-1 in sweltering Houston, before the final 15 minutes of overtime were marred by two goals conceded and a Brayan Vera red card.
RSL’s ALL-TIME OPEN CUP HISTORY: While RSL is 6-2-1 all-time against lower-division sides at home, thanks to last year’s Semifinal run the Club now owns an all-time 34-game, 17-year tourney record of 15-16-3 (W-L-T), including MLS “qualifying” games from 2007-10 … The overall home record at Rice-Eccles Stadium (3-1-0) and the former Rio Tinto Stadium (9-5-2) is 12-6-2, with RSL splitting the penalty-kick tiebreakers in Sandy…
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