USL Feature
Monday, November 11, 2013
Real Salt Lake took control of the Western Conference Final on Sunday night as Robbie Findley had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory in the first leg against the Portland Timbers at Rio Tinto Stadium. The former Boulder Rapids Reserves standout shone in the absence of Alvaro Saborio to help RSL take a commanding lead into the contest’s second leg in two weeks.
The Timbers took the lead in the first 15 minutes on a brilliant free kick by Will Johnson, but RSL hit back just past the half-hour mark as former Chicago Fire U-23 defender Chris Schuler continued his outstanding postseason with another goal as he headed home a free kick by Javier Morales.
Four minutes before halftime, Findley gave his side the lead as he pressed Timbers defender Mamadou Danso into a mistake, stole possession and finished coolly past Donovan Ricketts. The U.S. international, who had 15 goals in 17 games in two seasons for the Rapids Reserves, then provided the assist for RSL’s third, taking a pass from Morales before centering for Devon Sandoval to turn and finish.
Morales capped a strong display with RSL’s fourth from a header with eight minutes to go, but the Timbers gave themselves a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg late in stoppage time as Frederic Piquionne headed home a cross by Jack Jewsbury to reduce the deficit to two goals.
Saturday’s first leg of the Eastern Conference Final between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo produced less fireworks, with the two sides playing to a 0-0 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium. Findley’s teammate with the Rapids Reserves, Tally Hall, put in another solid performance for the Dynamo as he made a pair of saves to keep his side even on aggregate.