RSL will host Western Conference final

The stars have aligned for Real Salt Lake.

RSL will host New York in the MLS Western Conference final next Saturday after the Red Bulls pulled off one of the biggest playoff shockers in league history.

With its aggregate series tied at 1-1 heading into the second leg in Houston, the Red Bulls scored twice in the first half and cruised to a 3-0 victory to win the series on aggregate 4-1.

"I'd love to put that game in front of all of our fans," said RSL coach Jason Kreis following Saturday night's series-clinching win at Chivas USA. Less than 24 hours his wish came true.

Kickoff for the match at Rio Tinto Stadium will be 7:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel. Unlike the first round which is a two-game series, the conference finals are just one game.

Tickets for the match are now on sale at either riotintostadium.com or by calling (801) 924-8585.

Most of Real Salt Lake's players watched the match on a tiny television at a shoeshine stand at LAX while it waited for the departure of its delayed flight.

Even though New York finished the regular season in fifth place in the East, it was awarded the wildcard out West as the No. 4 seed because it finished with a better record than West No. 4 seed Colorado. RSL finished as the No. 3 out West, and therefore will be hosting the conference final.

The winner of Saturday's match advances to MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, Nov. 23. The match will be televised on ABC at 1:30 p.m. (MDT).

Even though RSL is unbeaten in its past eight games with a 3-0-5 record, including a 2-0-1 mark at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Red Bulls are by no means an easy opponent.

Real Salt Lake has never beat New York in its four-year history, the only team it has yet to defeat. The team is 0-2-2 in New York and all four of their match-ups in Utah have finished in ties.

The includes a 1-1 tie back on Oct. 9 in the Rio Tinto Stadium grand opening.