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SALT LAKE CITY - After a 2-2 draw against Monterrey, Real Salt Lake returned home on the verge of becoming the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Championship.
Fans greeted RSL as they got of the plane in Salt Lake City on Thursday, something that the players so greatly appreciated.
"It's only halftime right now but it's great to get this kind of support and it's awesome to know the people care," RSL defender Robbie Russell said.
"We got out of there with a tie," Nick Rimando, RSL's goal keeper, added. "To go into Mexico City and get a draw gives us a lot of confidence going into next week's game."
With the aggregate scoring system, there are a few ways RSL can win the championship Wednesday in Rio Tinto Stadium. With a win or draw at 0-0 or 1-1, RSL will win the CONCACAF Cup. If they tie 2-2 they will go into overtime. If they draw at 3-3 or higher or a Monterrey wins outright, then Monterrey will take the championship.
"We put ourselves in the perfect situation," Robbie Russell said. "We couldn't ask for a better result coming out of Mexico. Right now there is a lot of excitement knowing that it is all in our own hands."
RSL will have to play without captain Kyle Beckerman, who received a 2nd yellow card on a controversial call by the official. Beckerman feels the referee was tricked into calling the foul.
"Ya the guy went down like he got shot or stabbed and I guess what it looked like (on TV replay) that it wasn't even a foul but the referee got tricked into it," Beckerman said. "But I believe in the boys and I think they can get the job done."
The final leg of the CONCACAF Champions League takes place Wednesday at 8 pm in Rio Tinto Stadium.
Email: rzundel@ksl.com
