RSL's Morales rediscovering his form just in time

Sandy » For much of the season, midfielder Javier Morales had a hard time living up to the expectations he had created during his first full season with Real Salt Lake last year.

He wasn't scoring. His passes weren't leading to as many goals, and his patience was tested by opponents who made him one of the most fouled players in Major League Soccer.

But now that RSL is back in the playoffs and preparing to face the Chicago Fire in the MLS Eastern Conference final at Toyota Park on Saturday, all of that seems to be history.

"I feel very good now, with the team, with the confidence," Morales said. "We can do it, this year."

Looks like it.

The Argentine

midfielder played arguably his best game of the season last week, scoring one goal and assisting on another in RSL's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory on the road against the defending champion Columbus Crew. Defender Nat Borchers credited him as part of an "unbelievable" performance by the midfield in that game, and Fire coach Denis Hamlet said that "his ability with the ball is pretty special."

Everybody knew that, of course, after Morales scored six goals and compiled 15 assists for RSL last season.

His work this season had not been so rewarding, however.

Bothered by nagging injuries and the opponents who made him a target, he scored only once, with five assists in the regular season -- none of them between a 3-0

win over Toronto on June 27 and the moment he limped off the field with a groin injury early in RSL's 3-1 loss at New England on Aug. 23.

That injury kept Morales out for most of the next five games, before the team's unusual 18-day break that started in September gave him a chance to heal and "really work on his fitness," coach Jason Kreis said.

"He wasn't able to train, and I think he lost a lot of match fitness" when he was hurt, Kreis said. "As he said to me, he's a guy who wants to do the running and wants to work hard for his team, but wasn't able to."

So Kreis worked personally with Morales on his conditioning during the break, and the player has looked a lot more like his old self in the five games since then -- just when the team really needed him. He finally assisted on another goal during RSL's crucial 3-0 win over rival Colorado in the regular-season finale.

"He's a fighter," goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "He always wants to win, and always gives it all. Whether it's his best game or his worst game, he still gives it all. He's been sharper, for sure, and he's a key part of this team. When he's sharp, I think our whole team is really sharp."

That was never more in evidence than when RSL made its dramatic comeback in Columbus, and now the team hopes it continues when it meets the Fire.

For his part, Morales believes the team needs to play with less anxiety than it did against New York in the MLS Western Conference final last season, when it lost 1-0 at home after hitting everything but the back of the net.

"We have to relax, play 90 minutes, and after that, I hope we win," he said.

mcl@sltrib.com