Rimando crucial to RSL victory over Crew

Columbus, Ohio » Sure, he allowed one goal he probably should have stopped, and another he probably couldn't do anything about.

But still, goalkeeper Nick Rimando was a huge reason Real Salt Lake was able to beat Columbus 3-2 in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs at Crew Stadium on Thursday night and advance to the MLS Eastern Conference final.

The veteran made eight saves -- including one in the 52nd minute when he smothered an attempted tap-in by the Crew's Eric Bruner and another in the 85th minute when he leaped high to nudge a shot by the Crew's Eddie Gave just over the crossbar.

"Awesome," midfielder Andy Williams said. "He was in the right spot every time. You need an experienced keeper who has been through all this, and is cool-headed, you know?"

Oh, they know.

Rimando has started 84 games -- more than any other player in RSL history -- and won a championship with D.C. United five years ago. His veteran poise showed, especially when the Crew was throwing everything at goal in the final 20 minutes.

"He made some fantastic saves again tonight," coach Jason Kreis said. "He really did. ... He's been making some fantastic saves the past couple of weeks, and this time of year, it's all about players making plays."

The only fault Kreis might find with Rimando's performance was allowing the Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto to bounce a long free

kick untouched through the penalty area and into the net in the 19th minute.

But even that was a reasonably tough play, given all the action in front of Rimando, as was the second goal he allowed. That came off what Kreis called a "real bad defensive mistake" by defender Robbie Russell that allowed Barros Schelotto -- the reigning league most valuable player and one of the league's top scorers -- an open shot at him from close range in the 35th minute.

"We were organized in the second half," Rimando said. "They kept throwing stuff forward, and we were in the right place at the right time. If they didn't hit that perfect ball, we were all over it."