Real Salt Lake: Javier Morales, Will Johnson hope to be factors in Seattle this time

LEHI — Real Salt Lake's visit to Seattle this Thursday will be a bittersweet moment for two of its most important players.

As much as Javier Morales and Will Johnson were a part of RSL's improbable run to last year's MLS Cup, for differing reasons they were largely non-factors at Qwest Field last November when RSL beat Los Angeles to clinch the title.

Morales started the match but was replaced within the first 20 minutes after injuring his knee on a challenge from David Beckham. On the biggest night of his professional career, an inconsolable Morales exited the field prematurely with his face buried in his hands.

Johnson's contributions in the final were also cut short.

On the morning of the big game, he woke up nauseated. He spent several hours at the hospital receiving intravenous fluids to lessen the effects of food poisoning and was ultimately deemed fit enough to play and started the match. Johnson lasted 45 minutes but was eventually subbed out at halftime.

Predictably, Johnson's demeanor was low-key throughout the postgame festivities.

"I was trying to put on a good face, but I was miserable," recalls Johnson. "It sucks the one day I get sick is the final. ... It was a weird feeling, I was almost like a proud parent instead of a participant. I was super happy for these guys, but I never felt like I contributed in the final at all. It was kind of a weird feeling."

So when Johnson walks out of the Qwest Field tunnel Thursday — whether it's as a starter or a sub, since he played in Tuesday's friendly with the Canadian National Team — he won't exactly be reminiscing about what should've been the best night of his career.

Neither will Morales.

"(It should've been) the best experience of my life last time there, but instead I have a bad memory," said Morales.

Morales isn't seeking redemption in Seattle this week, because in many respects he already had his redemption moment.

The 2010 MLS MVP front-runner, Morales scored a 79th minute game-winner in a 1-0 triumph over Los Angeles at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 9. The loss was L.A.'s first of the season, and Morales played a major role by dominating the midfield.

"It was pretty evident from the very first minute that this was a big game for him," Kreis said after that match.

Realistically, Morales has been dominant most of the season, poised to do whatever it takes to get Real Salt Lake back to the big game — but this time stay on the field.

"My motivation is to play again in MLS Cup because I missed the last one. I want to get to the final and win because I think we have a good team and we can do it," said Morales.

Kreis believes that's only part of the Argentine's motivation this year.