Real Salt Lake will host N.Y. Red Bulls

SANDY — After sneaking into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, Real Salt Lake insisted it was a new season and they had visions of hoisting the MLS Cup.

Its chances of doing so just got a major boost on Sunday afternoon.

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 their 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 later, his wish came true.

Kickoff for the match at Rio Tinto Stadium will be 7:30 p.m., and the match 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.

"To host is a nice boost financially. For our fan base, it's a great opportunity and an opportunity to build an even bigger fan base," said RSL president Bill Manning. "Being in sports for 15 years, I know that fans like a winner. (The team) is really coming of age in the playoffs."

Most of Real Salt Lake's players watched the match on a tiny television at a shoeshine stand at LAX while they waited for the departure of their delayed flight. Houston led 2-0 when the team's flight finally departed.

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. (MST).

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.