This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Seattle • Real Salt Lake got what it was seeking Friday night at CenturyLink Field.
After RSL battled Seattle to a 0-0 standoff in Game 1 of their Major League playoff series, midfielder Kyle Beckerman said, "A draw was good. A win would have been better, but we'll take it."
Real Salt Lake can advance to the Western Conference finals against San Jose or the L.A. Galaxy with a victory over the Sounders on Thursday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
"It was a tough-fought game," Beckerman said. "They had some momentum. We had some momentum. It really went back and forth. So it's a stalemate right now. It's just halftime."
According to midfielder Will Johnson, RSL is "excited" about the possibility of winning the series at home.
"We love playing in front of our fans," he said. "This was the result we came here looking for. Now we have a chance to go win a game ... in a place where we love to play. I don't know if we can ask for more."
Goalie Nick Rimando was RSL's star in Game 1. He stopped five shots, including four in spectacular fashion.
"He's made a few saves like that before, but that many in one game? I don't think so," said Johnson.
"He was just outstanding tonight. A big reason we got out of here with a [draw] was Nick Rimando."
Coach Jason Kreis praised Rimando for one of the best performances in franchise history, but he didn't stop there.
"It's about everybody — it's about [all] the players," Kreis said. "Certainly Nick made some outstanding individual plays tonight. But the players in front of him were simply fantastic."
Johnson agreed: "When we are that committed, that focused and give that much effort, I think only a world-class goal will beat us."