COLUMBUS, Ohio (Thursday, November 5, 2009) - Real Salt Lake ensured a new MLS Cup Champion will be crowned this season, as the Utah side battled back to post a 3-2 victory over the defending champion Columbus Crew in Leg Two of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, resulting in a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Claret-and-Cobalt. Two goals by The Crew in the first 35 minutes would put the visitors in a 1-2 hole in the series, but Real Salt Lake battled back immediately, re-taking the series lead before the halftime break and adding an insurance tally in the second half to stun the 10,109 fans in attendance at Columbus Crew Stadium. With its second consecutive trip to an MLS Conference Championship booked, RSL will await the result from this Saturday's New England Revolution-Chicago Fire second leg to see where it will travel for the Eastern Conference Championship next Saturday, November 14 (6:00 p.m. MT, live on Fox Soccer Channel).Things certainly did not go as planned for the visitors to start the entertaining affair, as reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto made his presence felt by scoring in the 19th and 35th minutes to put Columbus up for the first time in the series. But RSL MF Javier Morales would answer just two minutes later to even up the series, and FW Robbie Findley's conversion from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time - a chance created when Crew DF Frankie Hejduk hauled down RSL FW Fabian Esp=EDndola in the penalty area - would allow RSL to re-take the series lead heading into the break. A goal off of a short corner by RSL MF Andy Williams in the 74th minute would put RSL in full command, and the Utahns would hold on from there to post the upset victory in both the match and the series.
RSL Match Notes - Morales' goal was the second of his playoff career, the first also coming in the second leg of the Conference Semifinal round. The Argentine's 77th minute goal at Chivas USA last Nov. 8 at The Home Depot Center proved the difference maker in a 3-2 aggregate series victory at The Home Depot Center. - Findley's goal was also the second of his postseason career, coming on the heels of last Saturday's 88th minute game-winner in the first leg against Columbus. - The penalty kick attempt was only the second of Findley's three-year MLS career. The 24-year old striker converted his first-ever attempt back on July 24, the 62nd minute spot kick equalizing for RSL in an eventual 4-2 comeback win at Rio Tinto Stadium. - The goal for Williams was just the playmaker's second goal in 19 career MLS Cup Playoff contests, his previous tally counting as the game-winner for the Chicago Fire in a 2-0 victory over D.C. United on Nov. 1, 2003 (Eastern Conference Semifinals, Leg One).
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