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Real Salt Lake savors CCL qualification

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John Stertzer (left) and Real Salt Lake have qualified for the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League. (Photo: Mexsport) SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake qualified for the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) on Sunday thanks to the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 win over the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup final. Since the Galaxy had already secured a CCL spot by virtue of having the next best regular-season record of those teams that hadn’t already earned an automatic berth, the title-winning performance at home lifted the five-time MLS champion to the top seed from the United States. As a result of LA acquiring the slot awarded to the MLS Cup winner, the fourth spot was designated for the team with the next best record in the regular season (Supporters’ Shield) standings that had not yet gained qualification – RSL. If the New England had won the MLS championship, it would have taken the top seed, leaving Salt Lake on the outside. According to the U.S. Soccer Federation, its four CCL berths are allotted to the winner of the U.S. Open Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, the MLS Cup and the best regular-season record in the conference opposite the Supporters’ Shield winner. “What a phenomenal accomplishment to have qualified for CCL again,” said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey.  “This tourney – extremely important to our club – helped put us on the map in 2010 when we were the first American team to win our group and again in 2011 when we were the only American team to reach the final.” RSL finished the 2014 MLS regular season with a 15W-11D-8L record (56 points) to earn the third seed in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the 2014 MLS regular-season campaign. “We have been working to get back into CCL since we got knocked out in the Fall of 2012,” continued Lagerwey.  “This is a great opportunity for us to take on the best teams in the region as we continue to grow the next generation of RSL.” It will be the Utah-based club’s third all-time CCL appearance, previously qualifying for the 2010/11 and 2012/13 editions.  In the 2011, RSL advanced to the final, before falling to Mexico’s Monterrey, 3-2 on aggregate.

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