Real Salt Lake Sends Defending Champion Columbus Out of the Playoffs!

By: Rocky Cole | November 5th, 2009

Andy Williams seals the deal for RSL with a late goal in Real’s 4-2 aggregate win to advance in the 2009 MLS Playoffs and move on to the Eastern Conference Final. Last week after Real Salt Lake beat Columbus at home in Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Jason Kreis said something interesting after the game. “No one believes in us, but us,” he said in a local post-game interview. Maybe people outside the locker room are starting to believe now, Jason. But the thing is, RSL has been playing some of their best soccer in the past six weeks. The team has been able to put some balls in the back of the net and the defense has been as solid as any team in the league. In tonight’s win, Rimando had eight saves. Even though the team went down 2-0 in the first half of play, they fought back and would not lessen their attack. RSL is showing some serious heart and have found their stride late in the season. Yes, they barely slipped into the playoffs, but they did it in a decisive win against the Colorado Rapids, and now they have beaten the defending champs two games in a row. RSL has momentum and now they await the weekend results to see if they will be on the road in Chicago or Foxboro. Whether it is the New England Revolution or the Chicago Fire that Real Salt Lake will face in the conference finals, Real seems capable and ready for the next step.