Real Salt Lake wants to win the MLS Cup.

But RSL also wanted to return to the CONCACAF Champions League.

The Los Angeles Galaxy's victory against the New York Red Bulls on Thursday moved RSL back into the international tournament, one that saw Real just miss winning this season. Salt Lake reached the championship round before losing to Monterrey.

RSL's berth to Major League Soccer’s “final four” also earned the team a place in the CONCACAF Champions League for a second time in three seasons. With Los Angeles already earning a spot in the 2012/13 edition courtesy of its 2011 Supporters Shield, and the two remaining American spots going to both of this year’s MLS Cup finalists, RSL is guaranteed a berth, courtesy of a duplicate spot going to the next-highest finisher in regular season league play that has not already clinched a spot.

Seattle was runner-up in this year’s Supporters Shield race, but earned the fourth U.S. bid after winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for a third consecutive year.

martyr@sltrib.com
Twitter:Rsltribune