Real Salt Lake needed extra time and penalties to see off Chicago and win the Eastern Conference final Saturday night at Toyota Park. With both sides applying offensive pressure throughout the 120 minutes, Chicago keeper Jon Busch and his opposite number Nick Rimando held up and kept it scoreless.
In penalties, RSL’s Javier Morales missed in the second round and Rimando saved John Thorrington’s attempt in the fourth. Rimando got the save off of Logan Pause in the 6th round, and Fabian Espnidola missed. That setup yet another Rimando save and Ned Grabavoy hit the winner for Real Salt Lake.
“It’s more of a good nervous feeling,” Grabavoy said. “Being in that moment and obviously after it went in; it was a great moment for the whole team. It felt really good to do it right in front of family and friends, right near where I grew up.”
The 2009 MLS Cup will be Los Angeles versus Real Salt Lake.
“I’ve never been to the final,” RSL coach Jason Kreis said. “After 11 years playing and three years coaching, it’s my first opportunity. I feel awesome, I feel fantastic; I feel rewarded for all the hard work that’s been put in. It’s funny because looking back on my career it’s kind of a block right now because as a player and as a coach, it’s all kind of all the same thing. To finally get here now is awesome.”
