photo by erocsid

• by Allison Norris, writing from Salt Lake City, Utah

If you’ve ever wondered how long Real Salt Lake is allowed to have a normal game, it’s a grand total of thirty minutes. Those thirty minutes came last Saturday during the first leg of the MLS Playoffs against the Seattle Sounders. For the first time since April, Real had its first choice of starters on the field – and the result was miraculous. Their center-back, Jamison Olave went down after a half hour with a muscle strain and toward the end of the second half the other center-back, Nat Borchers, went down with a similar injury. As excited as everyone was to see the full squad, the match’s result was reflective of what RSL has learned to do this year: deal with random injuries, ejections and absences.

Real Salt Lake demolished the Seattle Sounders in what was easily one of the absolute best matches of the year for the home team. Jason Kreis later credited the energy of the team to the atmosphere inside Rio Tinto Stadium. The audience was ready for a solid match and the team felt it. The small corner of Seattle travellers was rather quiet in comparison, despite their attempts at chants and choreography. RSL walked away from that match with three goals in hand – two from Alvaro Saborio, off assists from Javier Morales, and a third goal from Ned Grabavoy, assisted into the net by Seattle’s Brad Evans – though they were determined not to let that much of a lead guide their approach to the second leg at Seattle.

Kicking off in a downpour at Century Link Field, it was obvious from the first touch Seattle wanted to make a dramatic comeback. Possession was given to the Sounders, as well as attempts on goal. Real Salt Lake ended with very low possession and only one shot, not even on target. Fabian Espindola had the best chance of the night with a left-foot shot that was deflected by Kasey Keller. Most of the game was played in RSL’s half of the field with Seattle determined to get some goals. The Sounders were forced to make two substitutions in the first twenty minutes, obviously changing their approach to the game.

Real Salt Lake started without the skills of Olave or Borchers. They had a make-shift back line that had never played together in the history of the team. Tony Beltran made his return to the field after dealing with an injury for a month and a half. He played the full ninety and proved to be a very valuable piece to the away side. In the first half, Seattle had a chance on goal. Rimando was outside his box and Beltran made the lone run back to defend the goal. Seattle took the shot and with all his agility, Beltran made a huge save – heading the ball away as it sailed straight and true toward the back of the net. Even Seattle had to have been a little impressed. The fans at Century Link Field made their feelings known by booing Beltran as he made a throw-in a few moments later. Looking back, it was the save that changed the game.

Second half, Seattle came back determined and got the best of the visitors by getting in two goals. One, off a questionable penalty. Rimando chose correctly, but it went just beneath his reach. The second goal, off a mistake in RSL’s defense that rolled quietly to the far post. It was survival of the fittest after that. Real Salt Lake could not lose by more than two goals. They fought hard, having to take Javier Morales out due to injury. All attacking was lost and it was containment from there on out. Possession was patch and the ball skipped around all over the wet turf.

When the final whistle blew, after five minutes of agonizing extra-time, the television broadcast showed Jason Kreis’ face. He gave a giant sigh and looked at the sky. Every member of RSL Nation did the exact same thing. On the other hand, this match ended the career of goalkeeper Kasey Keller. It was a pretty relaxing night for him, but he likely would have chosen a different end. The Sounders are probably sad to lose such a skilled, respected veteran as Kasey Keller. Next season may be very different for them.

Back in April when Real Salt Lake was making their run to the CONCACAF Champions League Final, MLS regarded them as the best team in America. Everyone was behind them in their attempt to go further than any American team ever had. Everyone wanted to be like them. Adversity caught up with RSL, losing in the Final match and losing their form after Javier Morales’ injury. They were quickly pushed to the back of everyone’s thoughts. Now at the end of the season, no one is talking about the team that had accomplished so much earlier in the year. For an RSL fan it’s easy to see that in an alternate reality where they didn’t lose Morales to injury, or struggle with everything else that came their way, this is a team that would have easily been sitting at the top of the league. Those thirty minutes of relief, having their full squad on the field, was a show of what this team really can do. Finishing in third place is no laughing matter, considering everything this team has had to overcome.

As it stands, Real Salt Lake came through where it mattered most. Despite everyone’s opinion of what should have happened, they are now in the Western Conference final – one match away from another MLS Cup. This is a team that has something to prove and Seattle can now testify this opponent is not going to leave the competition without a fight.

Real Salt Lake is quite happy to fly under the radar.

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