SAN JOSE, Calif. (ABC4 Sports) – Real Salt Lake will be home for the playoffs, at least in the first round.

RSL (15-7-11) extended its five-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 win away at San Jose, as Zac MacMath recorded his second straight clean sheet in goal.

With the win, RSL clinches a top-four seed in the MLS Playoffs and will host a first round game in three weeks. Real is now tied with Seattle in the third overall position in the Western Conference standings entering Major League Soccer’s Oct. 19 Decision Day.

Bay Area native and MLS All-Star Diego Luna scored a thumping drive from outside the penalty arena in the 78th minute for the only goal of the game.

Aiming to bounce back from its shock loss to its opponents in both sides’ first encounter on August 24 in Sandy, RSL began the game in the ascendancy with its blend of attacking flair and high press. For its bright start, the visitors were nearly gifted in the 2nd minute, when a long throw into the box from Brown ultimately fell to Luna at the back post, but his first-time volley was narrowly saved and pushed over the bar by Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel.

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RSL then saw a second chance to go in front just three minutes later, when midfielder Dominik Marczuk, cutting from the right flank, made his way into the penalty area before moving inside onto his left foot and lasering a low, powerful effort towards goal, again pushed away.

The Claret-and-Cobalt continued to control proceedings throughout a dominant first half, leading the contest with a total of five shots, two on target, 54 percent possession, and eight corners all by the end of the first 45 minutes.

The visitors’ ascendancy only continued after halftime, with both Chicho and Marczuk coming close on multiple occasions before the team deservedly went ahead late on through an individual piece of brilliance from Luna. In the 78th minute, midfielder Braian Ojeda assumed possession of the ball in a dangerous position deep in the hosts’ half before laying off a simple pass for Luna, who subsequently cut infield to create separation from an opposing defender before rifling a powerful left-footed effort off the right post and into the back of the net.

With yet another shutout, the result also represented the team’s second consecutive clean sheet, and ninth overall of the season, as well as its first back-to-back shutouts stretch since April 13 and 20, in 0-0 and 4-0 results against Columbus and at Chicago.

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RSL return to action again for its final game of the regular season at home for the visit of its legendary former captain Damir Kreilach and the Vancouver Whitecaps to America First Field on MLS “Decision Day” on Sat., Oct. 19.

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