RSL loses consecutive penalty shootouts, ousted in 1st round of playoffs 3rd year in a row

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The third time was not the charm Saturday as Real Salt Lake faced playoff elimination in a penalty shootout for the third year in a row and could not change its fate.

A change of state didn't offer any assistance either, as Texas shootout losses in Austin in 2022 and Houston in 2023 gave way to Minnesota in a must-win Game 2 after Tuesday's loss in Utah, also in penalties.

Emeka Eneli was the savior for RSL during regulation to send the game to a shootout. He combined with Chicho Arango and Matt Crooks to nutmeg goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and get an equalizing goal in the 75th minute, reaching the final score of 1-1 after Joseph Rosales put Minnesota ahead initially in the 53rd minute.

"They don't give many chances, so then when I was able to back that goal, I think it gave us much-needed confidence that we can go on score another one," Eneli said. "Should have had one before, should have had one after — doesn't happen — but, you know, it is what it is."

The two teams endured over 230 consecutive minutes of scoreless soccer against each other, dating back to early October until the goal from Rosales early in the second half.

The shootout was much less drawn out, with RSL missing its second, third and fourth penalty attempts to set up a winner for Jeong Sang-bin on Minnesota's fourth try to give the Loons a final 3-1 advantage.

Arango was the only RSL player to convert his penalty kick, and the team managed just one other shot on goal during regulation apart from Eneli's goal.

"You don't recruit players to take penalty kicks," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said after the loss. "You know, it's a 12-yard shot, unopposed, and what makes them difficult is the moment."

The moment went Minnesota's way this time, and, for the moment, RSL is left wondering what's gone wrong the last three years in the biggest moment of the season.

The team will gather once more for exit interviews over the coming week before a longer-than-hoped-for offseason begins in earnest.

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