Game might not have been the prettiest, but result certainly was for RSL

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It was one of the biggest results in team history, one that reminded midfielder Javier Morales of the one in Chicago that delivered RSL to the MLS Cup in 2009. Still, coach Jason Kreis admitted feeling "a little bit bittersweet" about it, because his team wasn't quite as scintillating as he had hoped it would be against Saprissa in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals at sold-out Saprissa Stadium tonight."Really, really pleased, obviously, with this historical moment," he said. "But I would have liked to have advanced in a little bit more impressive fashion."It was impressive enough, for RSL to battle back after a Saprissa goal to open the second half — the scoreless first half had been a dream start for RSL — and score a crucial equalizer through Jamison Olave in the 61st minute. Olave volleyed home a deflected corner kick with his left foot to give RSL the away goal that assured Saprissa would need three more goals in the final half-hour to overturn its 2-0 deficit from the first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL ultimately lost the game, 2-1, but won the series 3-2 on aggregate and became the first Major League Soccer team to reach the Champions League finals.

"He should be a forward," midfielder Andy Williams joked about Olave.And for all his perfectionism, Kreis acknowledged he was impressed with the effort his team put forth, and the way it held together after Saprissa's Luis Diego Cordero tucked a long-range blast under the crossbar to give the Purple Monster hope of advancing."I was looking out at our guys to see whether or not we lose ourselves and continue to kind of go in a downward spiral," he said. "I don't think we did. I think our guys kept together pretty well. It's another mark or another bit of evidence for them being a mature group."For most of the game, we were under a great deal of duress, a great deal of stress and emotion," he added. "It was a difficult, difficult game for us, and that one goal [by Olave] got us through to the next leg. And I also say that what we did at home turned out to be extremely, extremely important."