Real Salt Lake's win puts Crew on ropes

Claret-and-Cobalt will look to deliver knockout punch at Columbus in second leg

Findley tapped home a low cross from Yura Movsisyan from the left corner to give RSL the advantage heading into Thursday night's second leg at Crew Stadium.

Columbus nearly made RSL pay for a defensive breakdown in the ninth minute. Robbie Rogers made a tackle at midfield and then sprung loose down the left flank, before finally threading a pass ahead to Steven Lenhart. From there, Lenhart beat a pair of defenders on tackle attempts and created a one-on-one opportunity with Salt Lake 'keeper Nick Rimando.

Lenhart tried to curl a shot inside the right post from about eight yards out, but the ball hooked just wide of frame. It was a fortunate thing for RSL since the shot could have potentially sailed right over Rimando's shoulder and into the upper corner of the net for an easy goal.

RSL got a nice look from long distance in the 23rd minute. After multiple defenders converged on him, Javier Morales sent a ball to Andy Williams just outside the area. Williams blasted a right-footed shot from about 20 yards out toward the right post. The ball was on frame and forced Crew 'keeper William Hesmer to stretch out and snag it out of the air for the save.

Another defensive mistake nearly cost RSL in first-half stoppage time. Lenhart tracked down a poor clearance attempt by Chris Wingert on the right side. He quickly laid the ball off to Eddie Gaven and Gaven drilled a low shot at the right post. Rimando covered up the ball at the post to make a timely save just before the half.

Much of the first half was spent with each team battling for possessions in the middle of the field. Neither team found it easy to gain an advantage against the opposing defense and it was reflected in the first half stats. Salt Lake generated two shots total and put just one ball on frame. Columbus managed to create five shots -- putting two of them on goal.

The second half unfolded in similar fashion to the first 45 minutes with physical play, limited chances on offense for both teams and the brunt of action being decided in the midfield.

RSL earned its first look at the goal in the second half during the 60th minute on a corner kick. Morales sent the kick inside the six, hoping to connect with a well-placed teammate on a header. Hesmer disrupted those plans by snaring the ball out of the air before any RSL player could get their head on it.

The Crew came right back at Salt Lake in the 63rd minute. A string of passes culminated in Frankie Hejduk sending a dangerous cross into the area. Jamison Olave cleared the ball away but sent it right into the path of Danny O'Rourke. On his first touch, O'Rourke sent a hard volley right at Rimando. He had advantage on Rimando, who was out of position, but the ball sailed just wide of the left post.

It was RSL's turn for a near-miss in the 74th minute. Robbie Findley sent a ball to Yura Movsisyan in the area. Movsisyan slid the ball off the back of his foot and sent a touch pass to an oncoming Morales. From there, Morales finished the play by blasting a high right-footer that sailed outside the left post.

Findley nearly connected on a shot himself in the 83rd minute when he outraced a defender to a through ball and flicked it at the left post. The trajectory of his shot, however, did not curl the ball around the post. Instead, it sailed into the side netting.

Findley finally broke the ice in the 88th minute. Will Johnson sent a short throw-in to Movsisyan, and he corralled the ball on the left flank and sent a hard cross toward the right post. Findley rushed onto the ball, slid forward inside of a Crew defender and threaded it perfectly between Hesmer and the post to give RSL the all-important opening goal.

John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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