RSL beats Los Angeles 2-0; advances to Western Conference Final


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SANDY — Real Salt Lake advanced to the Major League Soccer Western Conference Final Thursday night after beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 on the night and finishing the two-game semifinal series 2-1 on the aggregate score.

“It’s huge,” RSL head coach Jason Kreis said of the win. “I think it just should build an incredible amount of momentum for us, an incredible amount of confidence and positivity. To get that goal in the first half was giant for us — I think it took a big, big monkey off our backs.”

RSL evened the aggregate score line 1-1 with the Galaxy in the 35th minute of play when midfielder Sebastian Velasquez sent a header off a cross into the box from defender Chris Wingert right past L.A. goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. The goal was Velasquez’s first in the Claret and Cobalt and his first career goal.

“We have quite a few guys on the team that would literally run through that wall. If the coaching staff asked him, 'Sebastian run through that wall,' he would run through that wall right now. He’s an extremely hungry player that has some real gifts.”


It's huge. I think it just should build an incredible amount of momentum for us, an incredible amount of confidence and positivity. To get that goal in the first half was giant for us — I think it took a big, big monkey off our backs.

–Jason Kreis


Following the 90-minute regulation, the two sides were tied on the aggregate score 1-1, sending the Western Conference semifinal series into two 15-minute extra time halves.

RSL defender Chris Schuler put a goal in the back of the net in the 102nd minute of play, putting the Salt Lake club up 2-1 on the aggregate score, which was enough to secure RSL the night and the series.

“It’s a game I walk away from and I say ‘I’m really happy that Chris Schuler scored the game winner because frankly he deserved it,’ ” Kreis said.

The advancement into the Western Conference Final is the fourth in the last six years for the Salt Lake club.

Kreis said the club was the clear underdog of the series with the Galaxy.

“This wasn’t a game that we were suppose to win, this wasn’t an opponent we were much better than, this wasn’t a game where we could come in and draw and advance — we had to win, our backs were against the wall,” said Kreis. “We were the underdogs and our guys went out there and showed what it means to be part of a team and to treat each other like family.”

With the roller-coaster night and the win on the night to end the series, Kreis says the club will be ready to move forward to its next challenge.

“The guys have been through about every scenario that’s possible in a game this year, and I think that they should be well-prepared to hopefully move forward to the next round and beyond,” said Kreis.

RSL will host the Portland Timbers in the first leg of the Western Conference Final Sunday, Nov. 10, and then will travel to Portland for the second leg of the series on Nov. 24.

Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.

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