Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — Real Salt Lake standout Albert Rusnak won't be available for selection in next week's finale of the Western Conference semifinal two-leg series at Sporting Kansas City, due to yellow-card accumulation.
So if Sunday night's semifinal opener at Rio Tinto Stadium is his last home playoff game, he made it count.
Rusnak gave RSL the early lead in the 51st minute, but Sporting Kansas City equalized less than 10 minutes later to help the Western Conference regular-season champions steal a point, 1-1 in front of 14,045 fans Sunday night in the first leg of the MLS Cup Western Conference semifinals at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Diego Rubio scored for Sporting Kansas City, which won the Western Conference title on the final day of the regular season over expansion LAFC.
Rusnak had a through-ball ping off Kreilach just in front of the back line, and the headed ball fell right to the Slovakian’s feet for the half-volley in the 52nd minute. Rusnak crumpled to the turf just a few moments later.
"It was a great setup by Damir; let’s not forget that," Rusnak said. "In the end, it worked out perfectly, and it was a nice team goal."
With the goal, RSL must win or score multiple goals at Sporting Kansas City in the second leg next Sunday, due to Major League Soccer’s away-goals rule, to advance to the Western Conference finals against the winner of Cascadian rivals Portland and Seattle.
Felipe Gutierrez had perhaps the best chance of the night, rounding the corner of the box and ripping a left-footed shot on frame that RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando tipped aside in the 24th minute. Roger Espinoza added an attempt on the ensuing corner kick, but his open header sailed just wide of the far post.
Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia, who was once under contract at RSL as a backup to Rimando, made a clutch save in the 90th minute to preserve the draw.
"I thought we created a lot of opportunities, and scored a great goal," RSL defender Brooks Lennon said. "I thought the goal that we conceded was kind of a fluke. Overall, we had a great game — but we need to build on that."
Rusnak drew a yellow card with a tackle in the 26th minute, meaning the Slovakian international will be forced to sit the second leg of the series next Sunday in Kansas City, Kansas. He also had a yellow card in RSL's 3-2 win at Los Angeles FC in a knockout stage game Thursday night in Southern California.
RSL may also have lost Marcelo Silva for the second leg. The center back went down around the 40th minute with an injury, and Justen Glad — who began his second-straight match on the bench for Salt Lake — finished out the match in his place.
Sporting out-shot the hosts 6-5 in the first half, but had just two shots on goal — two chances that Rimando out of the back of the net en route to the first-half clean sheet before moving on to claim the draw at home — and setting up a semifinal finale with everything to play for.
"It will be a decisive game … so we cannot play for a tie," Rusnak said. "We have to go out and try to do the same thing we did at LAFC. It won’t be easy, but this year we already tied at Kansas City, so I don’t think it’s impossible.
“It will be tough. They’ve got a lot of quality players, but so do we.”
Here’s a look at the other conference semifinals played across MLS on Sunday. Kickoff next Sunday, Nov. 11 is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT at Children's Mercy Park (ESPN).
Columbus 1, New York 0 — At Columbus, Gyasi Zardes scored the only goal of the match midway through the second half, and goalkeeper Zack Steffen made a Herculean effort to make it stand up.
Zardes scored in the 69th minute, just 16 minutes after halftime substitute Federico Higuain entered the match. The Argentine played a cheeky back heel pass to Zardes on the counter, and the former LA Galaxy striker slotted it past Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles to give the Crew a 1-0 lead going back to Red Bull Arena next Sunday.
Atlanta 1, New York City FC 0 — At New York, Eric Remedi gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute, and goalkeeper Brad Guzan faced just seven shots to make it stand up in a game that totaled 39 fouls, including five yellow cards.
MLS record-breaking striker Josef Martinez nearly doubled the advantage for Atlanta in the first minute of stoppage time, but NYC goalkeeper Sean Johnson made a big save to keep NYC FC down just 1-0 before traveling to Mercedes-Benz Stadium next Thursday.
Portland 2, Seattle 1 — At Portland, Jeremy Ebobisse and Sebastian Blanco each scored in the first half to help the Timbers rally by their rivals for the first time in a postseason Cascadian Derby in five years.
Sounders star Raul Ruidiaz gave the visitor a crucial away goal in the 10th minute, but Seattle could be without injured starters Cristian Roldan and Chad Marshall for next Thursday’s return leg after both were pulled from the match less than 40 minutes in Sunday.
Contributing: Spencer Linton, KSL TV
