Real Salt Lake: Victory shakes up MLS playoff chase

SANDY — For 80 minutes Wednesday night, there were seven teams around MLS giddy about the prospects of Real Salt Lake failing to beat New York. For each of them, the scoreless draw would've improved their own hopes of securing one of the league's final playoff berths.

In one split second, however, Andy Williams changed all that with his 80th-minute goal.

Now, with two weekends remaining in the regular season, the race to the finish figures to be as exciting as ever.

With Wednesday's victory, Real Salt Lake improved to 37 points and vaulted past FC Dallas, D.C. United and Toronto FC into ninth place in the standings, one point behind New England for the eighth and final playoff spot and just three points behind Colorado for seventh place.

A loss would've all but mathematically eliminated Real Salt Lake, and would've been a welcome sight for all the other teams to trying to clinch their own playoff berth.

Now anything goes.

SALUTE FOR AN INJURED PLAYER: In a show of support for United States National Team member Charlie Davies, who was seriously injured early Tuesday morning in a one-car accident on the George Washington Parkway near Washington D.C. that involved a fatality, members of both Real Salt Lake, the New York Red Bulls and the game officials all wore T-shirts for the pre-game introductions with "Davies" printed across the front.

Many of the fans who attended Wednesday's game at Rio Tinto Stadium also held up placards with the number "9" on them to honor Davies.

Davies underwent over five hours of surgery for his injuries, which included a lacerated bladder and fractures to his face arms and legs. He is in stable and recovering, but his rehabilitation time is estimated at near and year and his status for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa next summer is uncertain at best.

UNWELCOME SIGHT: Real Salt Lake's players knew they needed to be on their best behavior Wednesday night against New York. That's what happens when you've had run-ins in the past with "Red Card Baldermo."

Referee Baldomero Toledo is notorious for handing out red cards, having shown 37 red cards in 86 career MLS matches prior to Wednesday night. That list includes the red cards issued to Real Salt Lake's Jamison Olave and Houston's Brian Ching in a 3-2 win for Houston back on Sept. 19.

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