RSL celebrates their penalty kick victory over the Chicago Fire to win the Eastern Conference Champsionship
and advance to the MLS Cup Finals (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
One year ago RSL fell to the New York Red Bulls at home in the conference finals with a shot at the MLS Cup finals on the line. Tonight Real Salt Lake found themselves back in the conference finals, this time on the road against the Chicago Fire with another chance to advance to the MLS Cup finals. After 120 minutes of scoreless play, Real advanced to the MLS Cup for the first time in team history thanks to the penalty kick heroics of goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Though neither team was able to hit the back of the net during the 90 minutes of regulation and through the 30 minutes of extra time, the game seldom dulled as both teams traded opportunities throughout the game. With the game tied at the end of extra time, Real Salt Lake and the Chicago Fire headed into a penalty kick shootout.
Even penalty kicks struggled to separate the two teams as both RSL and the Fire converted on four of the first five attempts sending the shootout into sudden death. Real looked in trouble early into penalty kicks when Javier Morales sent his attempt just over the crossbar giving the Fire the early advantage. Nick Rimando got RSL back into the shootout with a spectacular diving save on John Thorrington which allowed Kyle Beckerman to even the shootout with a successful attempt. RSL got their first chance to win when Rimando saved Logan Pause's attempt but Fabian Espindola sent his attempt well over the crossbar. Rimando came back and saved Brandon Prideaux's attempt which allowed RSL's seventh kicker, Ned Grabavoy, to win the game with a converted penalty.
With the win RSL advances to the MLS Cup Finals for the first time in team history and will play the L.A. Galaxy Sunday night in Seattle.
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