What Is 2014 Real Salt Lake season

Overview

The 2014 season marked one of Real Salt Lake’s most successful regular campaigns in Major League Soccer history. Under first-year head coach Jeff Cassar, the team achieved a franchise-best 53 points in the regular season, finishing atop the Western Conference. Their strong performance was fueled by consistent defense and balanced scoring across multiple players.

Despite their success during the regular season, RSL fell short in the postseason, exiting in the Western Conference Semifinals. The campaign highlighted both the team’s resilience and its challenges in advancing deep into the MLS Cup Playoffs. Key players like Javier Morales, Alvaro Saborío, and captain Kyle Beckerman played pivotal roles throughout the year.

• Javier Morales recorded 11 assists in 2014, marking his most productive season since 2010 and earning him a spot on the MLS Best XI.
• The team scored 50 goals during the regular season, their highest total since 2010, showcasing improved offensive efficiency under new tactical schemes.
• Real Salt Lake allowed just 38 goals over 34 matches, posting the second-best defensive record in the Western Conference.
• They went undefeated in 10 of 17 home matches at Rio Tinto Stadium, including a six-game unbeaten streak from May to July.
• Midfielder Joel Lindpere contributed 4 goals and 3 assists after joining the team mid-season, providing crucial depth during the summer stretch.

Performance & Playoffs

The 2014 season demonstrated Real Salt Lake’s ability to maintain consistency over a long MLS campaign, though playoff success remained elusive. The team adapted well to the departure of longtime coach Jason Kreis, who left to manage New York City FC, with assistant Jeff Cassar stepping into the head role seamlessly.

• Regular Season Record: Finished with 15 wins, 11 losses, and 8 draws, accumulating 53 points—the most in the Western Conference.
• Home Performance: Posted a 9–4–4 record at Rio Tinto Stadium, one of the strongest home performances in the league.
• Playoff Result: Lost 3–1 in the first leg and 2–1 in the second leg to LA Galaxy, falling 5–4 on aggregate in the Conference Semifinals.
• Top Scorer: Alvaro Saborío led the team with 12 goals, despite missing time due to injury and international duty.
• Appearances:Nick Rimando played every minute of the regular season, totaling 3,060 minutes and recording 9 clean sheets.
• Discipline: The team accumulated 48 yellow cards and 3 red cards, reflecting a disciplined but occasionally aggressive style.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing Real Salt Lake’s 2014 season to previous years highlights both progress and persistent challenges in the postseason. The table below outlines key performance metrics across three recent seasons.

The 2014 season stands out for its regular-season dominance, but the early playoff exit continued a trend of underperformance in knockout stages. While RSL consistently ranked among the top teams in the West, advancing beyond the semifinals remained a challenge. The team’s reliance on veteran players and lack of depth in key positions may have contributed to their postseason struggles.

Why It Matters

The 2014 Real Salt Lake season is significant for its demonstration of sustained excellence during the regular season and the ongoing difficulty in translating that into MLS Cup success. It marked a transitional year both in coaching and squad development, setting the stage for future roster changes.

• The season solidified Jeff Cassar as a legitimate MLS head coach, earning praise for maintaining team cohesion after a major leadership change.
• Real Salt Lake’s 53-point total in 2014 remained a franchise benchmark until surpassed in later years.
• The team’s strong defensive record highlighted the effectiveness of their 4-4-2 formation and organized midfield structure.
• Attendance averaged 20,184 per game, reflecting strong fan support and Rio Tinto Stadium’s status as one of MLS’s premier venues.
• The campaign underscored the importance of depth, as injuries to key players like Saborío impacted playoff performance.
• MLS recognized RSL’s season by awarding Javier Morales a Best XI selection, one of only a few from the team that year.

Ultimately, the 2014 season remains a high point in Real Salt Lake’s history—celebrated for its consistency, yet remembered for what might have been in the postseason.