Real Salt Lake Ned Grabavoy (l) celebrates his game winning goal in the shoot out with Javier Morales, right, as they celebrate their MLS Eastern Conference Championship 0-0 (5-4) in a shootout over the Chicago Fire after their game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Bridgeview, Ill. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching) (The Associated Press)
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Bridgeview, Ill. » Ned Grabavoy barely had played for Real Salt Lake down the stretch of the regular season, and not at all in its previous two Major League Soccer playoff games. Heck, the only way he played the one minute for which he was credited in the MLS Eastern Conference final on Saturday night was if you round up.

But what a difference he made.

The backup midfielder came through in spectacular fashion, firing home the dramatic penalty kick -- the seventh of the shootout -- that lifted RSL over the Chicago Fire and into the MLS Cup championship game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Qwest Field in Seattle next Sunday.

Later, he swore he wasn't nervous.

"Not really," he said. "Well, maybe a little bit, but it was more of a good nervous feeling, being in that moment. And obviously, right after it went in, it just was a great feeling for our whole team."

Not to mention the coach.

With the possibility of a penalty-kick shootout looming at Toyota Park, coach Jason Kreis used his last substitution on Grabavoy in the waning seconds -- precisely so he could have the six-year veteran at his disposal in a shootout if necessary.

"We kind of looked at our bench and thought, 'Who's a very good penalty-kick taker who has some experience and won't waver in this situation?' " Kreis recalled. "And we picked the right guy."

Indeed, the strike sent his teammates swarming

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Grabavoy in celebration, and proved a a gratifying finish for a player who grew up nearby and had plenty of friends and relatives in the stands watching.

But even Grabavoy didn't figure it would ever happen.

The shootout "usually doesn't go past five, most of the time," he said. "And I knew I was seven."

But forward Fabian Espindola missed his chance to win the game, sending the sixth penalty kick over the crossbar and into the stands. Only when goalkeeper Nick Rimando stopped the Fire's Brandon Prideaux for his third save of the shootout did Grabavoy have the chance to score the seventh goal of his career -- and only his second in the playoffs.

"When Fabi stepped up there, I thought 100 percent, it was over," Grabavoy said. "We've been working on PK's all week and he hasn't missed one. Nick made a huge save, that was big after Fabi missed, to swing it back our way. I just went up there -- he almost got to it, but I'm happy it went in."

mcl@sltrib.com

Shootout strategy

» Ned Grabavoy is inserted into the lineup with seconds left in overtime so he is available for a potential shootout.

» Grabavoy gets his chance at the winner after teammate Fabian Espindola misses RSL's sixth SO kick.