RSL and PDX meet Sunday in the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals.
PORTLAND — Real Salt Lake will travel to Portland, Oregon Sunday night, hoping to get back to the MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2009.
Holding a 4-2 lead on aggregate after a solid home win, the Claret and Cobalt has a bit of breathing room heading into a hostile environment at Jeld-Wen Field.
Jason Kreis’ side is unbeaten in its last nine matches against the Timbers, and although they’ve played well, they better not expect Portland to lie down.
Real Salt Lake defender Chris Wingert will not be playing the second leg due to a rib injury.
Former RSL man Will Johnson wears the captain band for PDX, and has scored 11 goals and registered three assists, including a fabulous free kick goal back on November 10 in the 4-2 loss to Real. Johnson will be the player that RSL will need to focus on, and the back four for the Claret and Cobalt will have to account for him during every attack.
As usual, the man leading RSL into Sunday night will be the one that holds the Claret and Cobalt together — Javier Morales. The Argentinian midfielder has nine goals and nine assists in 2013, and will need to have one more solid game to help propel RSL into the MLS Cup Final.
The game will be broadcast nationally at 7:00 pm on Sunday, November 23rd on ESPN, and locally by radio on ESPN 700 AM.
A few pictures from the first leg match held at Rio Tinto Stadium