Back on track

It took nearly three months, but Real Salt Lake finally managed to claw its way back into the Major League Soccer playoff picture. Not bad for a team that just about everyone wrote off at the midway point of the season.

RSL continued its second-half revival Wednesday by capitalizing on a lucky Jeff Cunningham goal and turning it into a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy at Rice-Eccles Stadium — the club's first 1-0 win of the season.

"As far as the character of this team, I think they showed their character tonight," said Real coach John Ellinger. "It's a strong group, a lot of pride, a lot of passion."

Some wondered if that passion would still be there after RSL was trounced 6-0 by New York last weekend, one of the worst losses in league history. Real responded by putting in one of its best 90-minute efforts of the season, and for the first time since June 9, it occupies a playoff position.

With the win, Salt Lake vaulted into a fourth-place tie in the Western Conference standings with the Colorado Rapids, who opened the door with a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas Wednesday night. Ironically enough, the teams meet this Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"We knew coming into these games we needed to get a result in both to keep the playoffs within reach," said Real defender Kevin Novak. "This is the first step. Now we need to focus on Colorado."

With a victory over the Rapids Saturday, RSL could realistically set its sights further up the standings. With 32 points, Real is within striking distance of third-place Chivas (34) and second-place Houston (36).

None of that would've mattered if it hadn't taken care of business Wednesday. Real began the game in a fifth-place tie with the Galaxy, and each team knew their playoff hopes would become increasingly more difficult with a loss.

If RSL ultimately does squeak into the playoffs, Cunningham should donate a portion of his playoff bonus to L.A. keeper Kevin Hartman. After all, his nightmarish save attempt on a Cunningham's shot in the 60th minute was the difference in the game.

Standing just a few yards off the endline and 8 yards from the left post, Cunningham realistically had no business shooting the ball from the impossible angle. Cunningham, however, has said in the past that good things happen when you just shoot.

Sure enough, Hartman bent down to save Cunningham's low driven shot, but it bounced off his hand and trickled between his legs and across the goal line to put Real in front 1-0.

It's unfortunate for Hartman because he played a great game otherwise, including saving an Andy Williams penalty kick in stoppage time.