Whitecaps' playoff hopes dealt blow after loss to Real Salt Lake

It didn’t look good for the Vancouver Whitecaps chances of making the Major League Soccer playoffs heading into their game with Real Salt Lake.

Those chances look downright miserable now after the Whitecaps’ lacklustre effort in a 1-0 loss on Saturday (September 28) at B.C. Place.

The 'Caps surrendered the only goal of the game in the ninth minute and were forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.

However, they looked disjointed for most of the night and didn’t mount much of an offensive attack against a short-staffed Salt Lake squad resting some of its regulars.

After a strong start to the season and with renewed hope for a playoff spot after a surprising 3-0 win in Montreal last weekend, the Whitecaps now have just two victories in their past 11 games. And more troubling is the fact that with their season hanging in the balance, the ‘Caps have managed to win just one of their last five games (1-3-1) at B.C. Place.

The Whitecaps have four games remaining in their regular season and sit four points back of fifth-place Colorado, with the top five teams in the division qualifying for the post-season.

The 'Caps finish the year with a home-and-home set against Colorado—the challenge will be ensuring that they stay within striking distance to make those games matter. The Whitecaps' next game October 6 at home against Portland.