CARSON, Calif. – The latest chapter in the LA Galaxy’s postseason rivalry with Real Salt Lake will kick off on Wednesday.
Los Angeles will host Real Salt Lake at StubHub Center on Sunday in the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round. The match will be the fifth time in eight years that the two teams have met in the postseason, each time the two teams have met; the winner of the series has either won MLS Cup or advanced to the final.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Knockout Round match, we look back at the Galaxy’s four previous postseason meetings with RSL.
2009 MLS Cup: Tied: 1-1 (RSL win 5-4 in PKs)
The LA Galaxy entered the 2009 MLS Cup in Seattle as overwhelming favorites but were upset by the underdog Real Salt Lake.
The Galaxy started the match quickly, dominating the first half and taking the lead in the 41st minute off a goal from Mike Magee. However, Salt Lake battled back in the second 45 minutes, with Robbie Findley equalizing in the 64th minute, as RSL dominated the remainder of the fixture until the game headed to penalties after extra time.
In penalties, Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando played the hero as he made two saves, setting up Robbie Russell’s MLS Cup winning penalty that gave RSL their first MLS Cup title.
2011 Western Conference Championship Game: LA advance 3-1
Bruce Arena’s group got their revenge on Real Salt Lake for their 2009 MLS Cup defeat in the 2011 Western Conference Championship Game at StubHub Center.
The match started quickly on both sides as Landon Donovan put the Galaxy ahead off a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, only for Salt Lake to equalize from Alvaro Saborio goal just 90 seconds later. The Galaxy took control in the second half with two goals inside of 10 minutes from Mike Magee and Robbie Keane to vanquish Jason Kreis’ Salt Lake team.
After defeating RSL, the Galaxy knocked off the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup title to win their third league championship.
2013 Western Conference Semifinal Series: RSL advance 2-1 (a.e.t.)
When the LA Galaxy meet Real Salt Lake in the postseason, home field advantage matters and Salt Lake proved it when the two teams met in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.
A late goal by Sean Franklin in the first leg at StubHub Center gave the Galaxy a slim one-goal advantage heading into the second leg in Utah, but it wouldn’t be enough. Salt Lake needed just 35 minutes to pull level on aggregate with Sebastian Velasquez split the defense and beat Jaime Penedo. RSL ended the Galaxy’s bid for a third consecutive MLS Cup title for good in extra time when Chris Schuler found the back of the net in extra time to eliminate the Galaxy.
Their rivals from Southern California vanquished, Salt Lake went on to defeat Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference Final before falling to Sporting Kansas City in penalty kicks in MLS Cup 2013.
2014 Western Conference Semifinal Series: LA advance 5-0
The LA Galaxy’s 2014 MLS Cup winning team was a team of destiny, and Landon Donovan was determined not to let his squad go down to their old foe.
In the first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium, Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo stole the show making five saves to keep the series tied at zero heading into the decisive second leg at StubHub Center. The Galaxy offense came alive in the second leg as Los Angeles trounced Salt Lake, 5-0, handing RSL their worst playoff loss in club history.
Donovan was the star for the Galaxy as he scored a hat trick while Marcelo Sarvas and Robbie Keane also got on the scoreboard. The win propelled the Galaxy to the Western Conference Final and ultimately the 2014 MLS Cup title.
