2020 Real Salt Lake season

The 2020 Real Salt Lake season was the team's 16th year of existence, and their 16th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top division of the American soccer pyramid.

Real Salt Lake
2020 season
OwnerDell Loy Hansen
Head coachFreddy Juarez
StadiumRio Tinto Stadium
Major League SoccerConference: 11th
Overall: 21st
MLS Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupCancelled
Leagues CupCancelled
MLS is Back TournamentRound of 16
Highest home attendance18,093
(March 7 vs. NYRB)
Lowest home attendance2,770
(Nov 8 vs. SKC)
Average home league attendanceAll: 5,335
Pre-Covid: 18,093
Post-Covid: 3,740
Biggest winCOL 1–4 RSL (Aug. 22)
RSL 3–0 LAFC (Sept. 9)
Biggest defeatRSL 0–5 COL (Sept. 12)
← 2019
2021 →

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended on March 12 and resumed four months later with the MLS is Back Tournament, played behind closed doors in the Orlando metropolitan area. Real Salt Lake resumed home matches in September with a limited capacity of 5,000 people and requirements for spectators to wear masks and practice social distancing.[1][2]

Background

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Non-competitive

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Preseason

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February 8 Closed friendly Real Salt Lake 3–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Herriman, Utah
Report Attendance: closed door scrimmage
February 15 Friendly Real Salt Lake 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Tucson, Arizona
4:00pm Silva   72'
Herrera   76'
Report
Report
Sánchez   40'
Duke   86'
Stadium: Kino North Stadium
Referee: Victor Rivas
February 19 Friendly Houston Dynamo 4–0 Real Salt Lake Tucson, Arizona
4:00pm
Report Stadium: Kino North Stadium

Competitions

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MLS regular season

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Note: The 2020 season was postponed on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season restarted on July 8 with the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando (see below), followed by resumption of regular season games.

Standings

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Western Conference table
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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
8 San Jose Earthquakes 23 8 9 6 35 51 −16 30 1.30 Qualification for the playoffs first round
9 Vancouver Whitecaps FC[a] 23 9 14 0 27 44 −17 27 1.17
10 LA Galaxy 22 6 12 4 27 46 −19 22 1.00
11 Real Salt Lake 22 5 10 7 25 35 −10 22 1.00
12 Houston Dynamo 23 4 10 9 30 40 −10 21 0.91
Source: MLS[3]
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. ^ Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
Overall table
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Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
2 2 0 0 2 1 1  0 0 0 1 1 1  0 0 0 1 0 0  0

Last updated: March 9, 2020
Source: MLS Results
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Match results

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February 29 1 Orlando City SC 0–0 Real Salt Lake Orlando, Florida
4:00 p.m. MDT
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 25,527
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
March 7 2 Real Salt Lake 1–1 New York Red Bulls Sandy, Utah
12:00 p.m. MDT Silva   54'
Martínez   80'
Kreilach   90+'
Report Cásseres   13'
Seagrist   35'
Duncan   73'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 18,093
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
August 22 6 (RMC) Colorado Rapids 1–4 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado
7:00 p.m. MDT Herrera   38' (o.g.) Report Kreilach   57',   78'
Chang   76',   88'
Baird   85'
Meram   89'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
August 29 7 Portland Timbers 4–4 Real Salt Lake Portland, Oregon
8:30 p.m. MDT Chara   6',   30'
Niezgoda   21'
Mabiala   67'
Williamson   69'
Blanco   70'
Mora   85'
Report Baird   19'
Kreilach   48'
Johnson   81',   90+4'
Rossi   90'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ismail Elfath
September 2 8 Real Salt Lake 2–2 Seattle Sounders FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Herrera   28'
Kreilach   45'+2'
Glad   50'
Ruíz   85'
Baird   90'
Report Arreaga   18'
Lodeiro   29' (pen.)
Gómez   69'
João Paulo   80'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,026
Referee: Malik Badawi
September 6 9 Minnesota United FC 4–0 Real Salt Lake St. Paul, Minnesota
6:00 p.m. MDT Gasper   53'
Reynoso   56'
Lod   62',   90'
Hayes   75'
Report Beckerman   73' Stadium: Allianz Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
September 9 10 Real Salt Lake 3–0 Los Angeles FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Kreilach   9',   48'
Meram   47'
Ruíz   61'
Glad   70'
Rusnák   79' (pen.)
Beckerman   85'
Report Cifuentes   65'
Harvey   78'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,147
Referee: Victor Rivas
Note: Re-schedule of postponed August 26 match.[5]
September 12 11 Real Salt Lake 0–5 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Toia   54'
Martínez   64'
Report Rubio   3', 10'
Vines   49'
Galván   55'
Price   69'
Bassett   88'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,484
Referee: Ramy Touchan
September 19 12 Real Salt Lake 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Beckerman   8'   63'
Toia   68'
Meram   81'
Baird   90+2'
Report Bikel   15'
Adnan   41'
Milinković   53'
Cavallini   84'
Hasal   90+1'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,409
Referee: Kevin Stott
September 23 13 Real Salt Lake 2–0 LA Galaxy Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Baird   62'
Rusnák   65' (pen.)
Kreilach   72'
Report DePuy   24'
Bingham   64'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,943
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
September 27 14 Minnesota United FC 0–0 Real Salt Lake St. Paul, Minnesota
6:00 p.m. MDT Métanire   37' Report Ruíz   32'
Glad   85'
Stadium: Allianz Field
Referee: Drew Fischer
October 4 15 Real Salt Lake 1–3 Los Angeles FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Ruíz   60'
Atuesta   64' (o.g.)
Johnson   71'
Toia   80'
Report Wright-Phillips   22'
Rossi   27'
Rodríguez   59'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,062
Referee: Nima Saghafi
October 7 16 Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake Seattle, Washington
8:00 p.m. MDT Delem   26'
Morris   28'
Gómez   61'
O'Neill   70'
Report Tolo   68' (o.g.)
Besler   76'
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Referee: David Gantar
October 10 17 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake Portland, Oregon[Note 2]
8:00 p.m. MDT Montero   14'
Bikel   43'
Cavallini   61',   75'
Martínez   71' (o.g.)
Dájome   79'
Veselinović   90+7'
Report Silva   23'
Kreilach   37'
Ruíz   40'
Herrera   58'
Martínez   76'
Stadium: Providence Park
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
October 14 18 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Portland Timbers Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Martínez   11'
Silva   16'
Kreilach   26'
Herrera   82'
Portillo   90+1'
Report Tuiloma   77' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Robert Sibiga
October 24 19 Real Salt Lake 0–0 FC Dallas Sandy, Utah
6:30 p.m. MDT Ramírez   90+2' Report Jara   75' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,078
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
October 28 20 San Jose Earthquakes 2–0 Real Salt Lake San Jose, California
8:30 p.m. MDT Wondolowski   16',   74'
Judson   53'
Ríos   64'
Report Silva   10'
Besler   22'
Toia   39'
Herrera   59'
Kreilach   63'
Stadium: Earthquakes Stadium
Referee: Elton García
November 1 21 LA Galaxy 2–1 Real Salt Lake Carson, California
8:30 p.m. MDT González   18',   56'
Pavón   65'
Zubak   68'
Report Martínez   78' Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Jon Freemon
November 8 22 Real Salt Lake 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
4:30 p.m. MST Report Martins   39'
Shelton   45'
Hurtado   48'
Russell   87'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 2,770
Referee: Kevin Stott

MLS is Back tournament

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Group stage

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Group D results
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sporting Kansas City 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 6 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Minnesota United FC 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5
3 Real Salt Lake 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
4 Colorado Rapids 3 0 1 2 4 7 −3 1
Source: MLS[7]

Note: Group stage results of the MLS is Back Tournament were treated as regular season matches in the overall standings.

Matches

July 12 3 Real Salt Lake 2–0 Colorado Rapids Bay Lake, Florida
8:30 PM MDT Rusnák   27'
Herrera   37'
Luiz   62'
Kreilach   76'
Glad   82'
Report Kamara   39'
Price   69'
Irwin   70'
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jair Marrufo
July 22 5 Real Salt Lake 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Bay Lake, Florida
7:00 AM MDT Holt   20'
Johnson   40'
Beckerman   55'
Glad   71'
Report Russell   1'
Sánchez   36'
Busio   56'
Smith   62'
Gerso   86'
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fotis Bazakos

Knockout stage

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July 27 Round of 16 San Jose Earthquakes 5–2 Real Salt Lake Bay Lake, Florida
6:30 PM MDT Espinoza   21',   31'
Eriksson   49' (pen.), 90+6' (pen.)
Qazaishvili   61'
Wondolowski   86'
Report Martínez   22'
Herrera   29'
Baird   37'
Glad   66'
Kreilach   75'
Silva   84'
Beckerman   90+7'
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Referee: Drew Fischer

U.S. Open Cup

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The 2020 U.S Open Cup was suspended on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being cancelled by the U.S. Soccer Federation on August 17.[8]

Leagues Cup

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The 2020 Leagues Cup was canceled on May 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Stats

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Squad appearances and goals

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Last updated January 11, 2021.
No. Pos Nat Player Total Major League Soccer MLS is Back Tournament Playoffs
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK   USA David Ochoa 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
18 GK   USA Zac MacMath 7 0 3 0 4 0 0 0
51 GK   USA Andrew Putna 15 0 15 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF   TRI Alvin Jones 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
3 DF   CAN Ashtone Morgan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF   USA Donny Toia 21 0 16+1 0 4 0 0 0
14 DF   ENG Nedum Onuoha 15 0 15 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF   USA Justen Glad 18 1 11+3 1 4 0 0 0
20 DF   USA Erik Holt 7 0 3+2 0 1+1 0 0 0
22 DF   USA Aaron Herrera 21 0 17 0 4 0 0 0
30 DF   URU Marcelo Silva 16 0 13 0 3 0 0 0
Midfielders
5 MF   USA Kyle Beckerman 11 0 3+5 0 2+1 0 0 0
6 MF   ARG Pablo Enrique Ruíz 19 1 14+2 1 2+1 0 0 0
8 MF   CRO Damir Kreilach 22 9 17+1 7 4 2 0 0
9 MF   IRQ Justin Meram 22 3 12+6 3 1+3 0 0 0
11 MF   SVK Albert Rusnák 17 3 13+1 2 3 1 0 0
13 MF   USA Nick Besler 12 0 6+4 0 0+2 0 0 0
16 MF   CUB Maikel Chang 19 1 12+5 1 0+2 0 0 0
19 MF   ENG Luke Mulholland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF   BRA Everton Luiz 15 0 8+3 0 4 0 0 0
26 MF   USA Luis Arriaga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 MF   USA Justin Portillo 5 0 3+2 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
7 FW   ITA Giuseppe Rossi 7 1 1+3 1 0+3 0 0 0
10 FW   USA Corey Baird 22 2 14+4 2 4 0 0 0
12 FW   HON Douglas Martínez 19 3 7+8 2 3+1 1 0 0
17 FW   USA Chris Garcia 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
21 FW   USA Tate Schmitt 4 0 3+1 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW   USA Milan Iloski 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
27 FW   USA Julián Vázquez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 FW   VEN Jeizon Ramírez 10 0 0+9 0 0+1 0 0 0
50 FW   LBR Sam Johnson 10 1 2+5 1 1+2 0 0 0

Assists and shutouts

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  • Stats from MLS regular season, MLS playoffs, CONCACAF Champions league, and U.S. Open Cup are all included.
  • First tie-breaker for assists and shutouts is minutes played.
As of March 9, 2020[10]

Club

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Roster

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  • Age calculated as of the start of the 2019 season.
As of October 24, 2019,[11][12]
No. Name Nationality Positions Date of birth (age) Signed from Seasons with club (year signed)
1 David Ochoa (HGP)   United States GK (2001-01-16)January 16, 2001 (aged 19)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
2 Alvin Jones   Trinidad and Tobago DF (1994-07-09)July 9, 1994 (aged 25)   OKC Energy FC 1 (2020)
3 Ashtone Morgan   Canada DF (1991-02-09)February 9, 1991 (aged 29)   Toronto FC 1 (2020)
4 Donny Toia   United States DF (1992-05-28)May 28, 1992 (aged 27)   Orlando City SC 3 (2011, 2019)
5 Kyle Beckerman (Captain)   United States MF (1982-04-23)April 23, 1982 (aged 37)   Colorado Rapids 14 (2007)
7 Giuseppe Rossi   Italy FW (1987-02-01)February 1, 1987 (aged 33)   Genoa 1 (2020)
8 Damir Kreilach   Croatia MF (1989-04-16)April 16, 1989 (aged 30)   Union Berlin 3 (2018)
9 Justin Meram   Iraq MF (1988-12-04)December 4, 1988 (aged 31)   Atlanta United FC 1 (2020)
10 Corey Baird (HGP)   United States FW (1997-01-21)January 21, 1997 (aged 23)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 3 (2018)
11 Albert Rusnák (DP)   Slovakia MF (1994-07-07)July 7, 1994 (aged 25)   FC Groningen 4 (2017)
12 Douglas Martínez   Honduras FW (1997-06-05)June 5, 1997 (aged 22)   Real Monarchs 2 (2019)
13 Nick Besler   United States MF (1993-05-07)May 7, 1993 (aged 26)   Real Monarchs 4 (2017)
14 Nedum Onuoha   England DF (1986-11-12)November 12, 1986 (aged 33)   Queens Park Rangers F.C. 3 (2018)
15 Justen Glad   United States DF (1997-02-28)February 28, 1997 (aged 23)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 7 (2014)
16 Maikel Chang   Cuba MF (1991-04-18)April 18, 1991 (aged 28)   Real Monarchs 1 (2020)
17 Chris Garcia   United States FW (2003-01-13)January 13, 2003 (aged 17)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 1 (2020)
18 Zac MacMath   United States GK (1991-08-07)August 7, 1991 (aged 28)   Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (2020)
19 Luke Mulholland   England MF (1988-08-07)August 7, 1988 (aged 31)   Tampa Bay Rowdies 7 (2014)
20 Erik Holt (HGP)   United States DF (1996-09-06)September 6, 1996 (aged 23)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
21 Tate Schmitt (HGP)   United States FW (1997-05-28)May 28, 1997 (aged 22)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
22 Aaron Herrera (HGP)   United States DF (1997-06-06)June 6, 1997 (aged 22)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 3 (2018)
23 Milan Iloski   United States FW (1999-07-29)July 29, 1999 (aged 20)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 1 (2020)
25 Everton Luiz   Brazil MF (1988-05-24)May 24, 1988 (aged 31)   S.P.A.L. 2 (2019)
26 Luis Arriaga (HGP)   United States MF (2001-01-06)January 6, 2001 (aged 19)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
27 Julian Vazquez (HGP)   United States FW (2001-03-30)March 30, 2001 (aged 18)   Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
28 Jeizon Ramírez (DP)   Venezuela FW (2001-03-24)March 24, 2001 (aged 18)   Deportivo Táchira F.C. 1 (2020)
30 Marcelo Silva   Uruguay DF (1989-03-21)March 21, 1989 (aged 30)   Real Zaragoza 4 (2017)
43 Justin Portillo   United States MF (1992-09-09)September 9, 1992 (aged 27)   Real Monarchs 2 (2019)
50 Sam Johnson (DP)   Liberia FW (1993-05-06)May 6, 1993 (aged 26)   Vålerenga Fotball 2 (2019)
51 Andrew Putna   United States GK (1994-10-21)October 21, 1994 (aged 25)   Real Monarchs 3 (2018)

Transfers

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As of October 7, 2019[11]
Player Position Previous Club Fees/Notes Date
  Maikel Chang MF   Real Monarchs Free transfer 11/21/19
  Alvin Jones DF   OKC Energy FC undisclosed 12/9/19
  Zac MacMath GK   Vancouver Whitecaps FC Trade for $50,000 in TAM 12/17/19
  Milan Iloski FW   UCLA Bruins Homegrown player 1/15/20
  Ashtone Morgan DF   Toronto FC Free agent 1/21/20
  Jeizon Ramírez FW   Deportivo Táchira F.C. Young DP 2/6/20
  Chris Garcia FW   Real Salt Lake Academy Homegrown player 2/10/20
  Justin Meram MF   Atlanta United FC Free agent 2/11/20
  Giuseppe Rossi FW unattached Free agent 2/27/20
Player Position Next Club Fees/Notes Date
  Nick Rimando GK retired 10/24/19 [13]
  Danilo Acosta DF   LA Galaxy option declined[Note OPT] 11/21/19
  Jordan Allen FW retired 11/21/19
  Alex Horwath GK retired 11/21/19
  Joao Plata FW   Toluca option declined[Note OPT] 11/21/19
  Kelyn Rowe MF   New England Revolution out of contract 11/21/19
  Brooks Lennon DF/FW   Atlanta United FC Trade for $300,000 in GAM and TAM 12/2/19
  Sebastian Saucedo MF   Pumas UNAM out of contract 12/9/19
  Jefferson Savarino FW   Atletico Mineiro $2,000,000 2/7/20
Notes
  1. ^
    Option Declined (OPT): Players who have had their option declined may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.
  2. ^
    Free Agent (FREE): Players who are out of contract may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.

Loans

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Player Position Loaned From Fees/Notes Date
Player Position Loaned To Fees/Notes Date

Trialist

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Player Position Previous team Notes Date Result
  Dayonn Harris FW UConn 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick #20 01/9/20
  Michael Wetungu DF Michigan State 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick #46. 01/9/20

Notes

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  1. ^ Match postponed as part of a league-wide walkout, following the shooting of Jacob Blake.
  2. ^ Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play their home matches at Providence Park, Portland, instead of their regular home stadium BC Place, Vancouver, due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. ^ Match originally postponed on October 12 due to COVID-19 concerns in Colorado; ultimately never played.

References

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  1. ^ Vejar, Alex (September 2, 2020). "RSL draws with Seattle 2-2 in first game with fans since March". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Vejar, Alex (August 8, 2020). "Real Salt Lake announces home games with fans in attendance". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Conference Standings – 2020". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "We Not Playing Tonight #EnoughIsEnough". lafc.com. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "RSL to Host LAFC on Wednesday, September 9". RSL.com. August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "MLS postpones next three Colorado Rapids league matches". mlssoccer.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "MLS is Back Group Stage Standings". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Major League Soccer Season Statistics". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Roster". rsl.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "RSL Signs Justin Portillo from Real Monarchs SLC". rslsoapbox.com. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando to retire after 2019". mlssoccer.com. March 1, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.