Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers report card

Jason Kreis has his team convinced they're already in the playoffs for all intents and purposes. With only four games left in the regular season, the all important seatings are up for grabs in the Western Conference with San Jose, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles all jockeying to take one of the top three spots for a first round bye. RSL and Los Angeles are tied for the third spot. Saturday at Rio Tinto, the boys in Claret and Cobalt started off like a playoff team with two goals in the first half, but struggled in the second half to stay as energized as the first. They squeaked out a win despite four high quality second half shots on goal that RSL players spotted poorly so as to make Portland goalie Joe Bendik look better than he actually was.