Through the years, many teams can be called rivals in Major League Soccer. Some due to geographic proximity. Some due to one pivotal moment.
But from 2009’s MLS Cup Final through the playoffs in 2014, there may not have been a more fierce series between successful clubs battling a respectful duel for league supremacy than Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy.
The two teams met in the 2009 final in Seattle, with RSL lifting the trophy in a shootout and went on to square off in the playoffs in three of the next five years, with LA going 3-1-2 in the six postseason matches.