SALT LAKE ADVANCE TO WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS

Real Salt Lake have advanced to the MLS Cup Western Conference semi-finals after defeating Los Angeles Football Club 3-2 on home turf.

A few minutes before the game between Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Football Club kicked off on Thursday at Banc of California Stadium, Columbus Crew had staged a huge upset with a daring win over D.C. United on penalty shootouts. Just to be clear, that was a sixth seed knocking out a third seed, highlighting how phenomenal that was.

It was RSL’s turn to pull off another upset just few minutes later, scratching and clawing their way to a hard-fought 3-2 win over Los Angeles Football Club and advancing to the MLS Cup Western Conference semifinals. RSL will host Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m. on Sunday

 

Damir Kreilach moments before the gaffer Mike Petke kissed him on the cheek, midway through giving a postgame interview said, “It was a great performance for us. Every one of us was in. It was the best (away) game of us this season.”

Kreilach was the cream of the crop for Real Salt Lake, recording a brace and an assist during the course of the match.

 

Real Salt Lake were outshot 21-4 by Los Angeles but it was their defense that provided a daunting test for an LAFC team that had manhandled it in two regular season matchups. The defense was simply faultless.

 

Manager Mike Petke opted to start Nedum Onuoha, Luke Mulholland and Marcelo Silva, all of whom started against New England when Real had five starters out due to suspension or international duty. Salt Lake won that game when they needed it the most.

Petke chuckled, “He was a star tonight,” he said of Onuoha. “He really was.”

RSL amassed 41 clearances to just 10 for Los Angeles.