The Columbus Crew and Real Salt Salt Lake have advanced to the next round of the MLS playoffs after both teams held their own against fiesty opponents. The top-seeded Crew have a date with the Chicago Fire next week after their 2-0 blanketing of the Kansas City Wizards. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake's 2-2 draw with Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center saw them advance on aggregate (3-2) due to last week's final minute goal.
Sigi Schmid's men drew first blood seven minutes from kickoff against their foes as Brian Carroll's chip pass found forward Brad Evans on a well timed run. Evans' run left him isolated and on a breakaway. He then simply flicked the ball over oncoming Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to give the Crew an early lead.
The Crew then doubled their lead 50 minutes later with a Robbie Rogers strike. The goal came as Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto put a through pass to Alejandro Moreno down the right flank. Moreno jolted forward before laying a cross through the penalty area to find an unmarked Rogers, who easily buried the ball into the back of the net.
Up next for Columbus, a meeting with the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference Championship on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET. You can see the game nationwide on ESPN2.
On the West Coast, the game between Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake remained scoreless until the 29th minute when Ante Razov dribbled past a pair of players before being fouled by Javier Morales inside the penalty area. Sacha Kljestan, who has been linked to a European move during the upcoming winter, took the penalty kick and struck the ball cooly into the upper right corner.
Real Salt Lake answered with a goal of their own just ten minutes later. Morales found redemption as he sent a cross from the right side of the pitch to midfielder Dema Kovalenko. The 5-foot, 8-inch player lunged forward and headered the ball just inside the back post.
In the 77th minute, Morales added an insurance goal as he received a ball towards the left edge of the penalty area. He cut in front of his defender before hitting a low curler to the far post past Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
Chivas USA made it interesting once again as they tied the score in the 83rd minute. A through ball from Francisco Mendoza gave second half substitute Justin Braun enough space to strike the ball past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
However, Chivas USA needed another goal to even things up on aggregate and Kljestan's late 15-yard shot almost accomplished that feat but the ball went just inches over the crossbar.
Jason Kreis' team now has time to rest until next Sunday's Western Conference Final. The red and blue army will take on the winner of the series between the Houston Dynamo and the New York Red Bulls, which is 1-1 on aggregate and set to be determined later today.
For now though, both the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake can rest easily as they've both punched their tickets to their Conference Championships and are one step closer to reaching the MLS Cup Final.
Did you watch the games last night? Think RSL has what it takes to make it to the MLS Cup Final? Excited about the Crew's chances against the Fire? Express your comments below.
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