Two teams left, one cup to play for. The long and difficult MLS season has been successfully navigated by Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy. On Sunday, the season comes to an end and MLS will crown a champion.

In the city where MLS has been a runaway success this season, a one club will emerge victorious.

Two teams left, one cup to play for. The long and difficult MLS season has been successfully navigated by Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy. On Sunday, the season comes to an end and MLS will crown a champion.

In the city where MLS has been a runaway success this season, a one club will emerge victorious.

Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ

Real Salt Lake is heading to its first MLS Cup Final after beating the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks at Toyota Park on Saturday night.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando stole the show, making three penalty saves to win the second playoff penalty shootout of his career.

The Chicago Fire will look to reach its fourth MLS Cup Final by beating Real Salt Lake in tonight's MLS Eastern Conference Final.

The winner of tonight's match will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo, 2-0, in overtime on Friday night.

The Chicago Fire will look to reach its fourth MLS Cup Final by beating Real Salt Lake in tonight's MLS Eastern Conference Final (8pm, FSC).

The winner of tonight's match will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo, 2-0, in overtime on Friday night.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake are probably not the teams most observers would have pegged to be playing for the Eastern Conference title and berth in MLS Cup, but these two teams earned their places in the Final Four by virtue of strong first-round performances that should lead into a memorable East Final on Saturday night (8pm, FSC).

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake are probably not the teams most observers would have pegged to be playing for the Eastern Conference title and berth in MLS Cup, but these two teams earned their places in the Final Four by virtue of strong first-round performances that should lead into a memorable East Final on Saturday night (8pm, FSC).

In the midst of a playoff run, and one win from a spot in the MLS Cup, news from Utah today hint that Real Salt Lake minority Dave Checketts is close to selling his 49 percent stake in the club.

According to the Deseret News, Checketts is in the later stages of negotiations with Utah real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen for the shares Checketts' owns in the club.

By TRAVIS CLARK

In the midst of a playoff run, and one win from a spot in MLS Cup, Real Salt Lake is reportedly close to seeing a new minority owner buying into the club.

According to the Deseret News, RSL owner Dave Checketts is in the latter stages of negotiations with Utah real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen to sell Hansen a 49 percent stake in the club.

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Guillermo Barros Schelotto was being counted on to help his Columbus Crew climb out of the one-goal deficit it faced after a Game One defeat to Real Salt Lake, and he did just that with two first-half goals in Thursday night's Game Two. Unfortunately for the Crew, the normally stout defense it was counting on to pitch a shutout delivered a mistake-filled performance that has helped put an end to Columbus' quest for a repeat.

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Guillermo Barros Schelotto was being counted on to help his Columbus Crew climb out of the one-goal deficit it faced after a Game One defeat to Real Salt Lake, and he did just that with two first-half goals in Thursday night's Game Two. Unfortunately for the Crew, the normally stout defense it was counting on to pitch a shutout delivered a mistake-filled performance that has helped put an end to Columbus' quest for a repeat.

The Columbus Crew quest for a repeat MLS Cup championship will ride on tonight's First Round playoff decider against Real Salt Lake at Crew Stadium (8pm, ESPN2).

The Crew will need to erase a 1-0 deficit from its first-leg loss at Rio Tinto Stadium to do win the series, and will welcome back reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who is expected to start after being benched for the first game.

The Columbus Crew quest for a repeat MLS Cup championship will ride on tonight's First Round playoff decider against Real Salt Lake at Crew Stadium (8pm, ESPN2).

The Crew will need to erase a 1-0 deficit from its first-leg loss at Rio Tinto Stadium to do win the series, and will welcome back reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who is expected to start after being benched for the first game.

Real Salt Lake took a major step toward a potential first-round series upset on Saturday, scoring a 1-0 victory in the opening leg of its series vs. defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

Robbie Findley tapped home a Yura Movsisyan pass in the 88th minute to send RSL into Thursday night's Game Two in Columbus up a goal.

Real Salt Lake took a major step toward a potential first-round series upset on Saturday, scoring a 1-0 victory in the opening leg of its series vs. defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

Robbie Findley tapped home a Yura Movsisyan pass in the 88th minute to send RSL into Thursday night's Game Two in Columbus up a goal.

The Columbus Crew begins defense of its MLS Cup title today at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake in Game One of their Eastern Conference series (6pm, Direct Kick).

The Crew will come into the match with a surprising lineup that does not include MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto or forward Alejandro Moreno.

The Columbus Crew begins defense of its MLS Cup title today at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake in Game One of their Eastern Conference series (6pm, Direct Kick).

The Crew will come into the match with a surprising lineup that does not include MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto or forward Alejandro Moreno.

There may not be a bigger mismatch on paper in the first round of the MLS playoffs than the Columbus Crew-Real Salt Lake series, but there is also no match brimming with more upset potential than this unique Eastern Conference clash.

There may not be a bigger mismatch on paper in the first round of the MLS playoffs than the Columbus Crew-Real Salt Lake series, but there is also no match brimming with more upset potential than this unique Eastern Conference clash.

It will likely end up being too little too late, but FC Dallas continues to show that it has plenty of fight left in it. Counted out all season with a poor start to 2009, the amazing turnaround continued last night against a San Jose team that played hard but came up short, losing Dallas by a 2-1 scoreline.

It will likely end up being too little too late, but FC Dallas continues to show that it has plenty of fight left in it. Counted out all season with a poor start to 2009, the amazing turnaround continued last night against a San Jose team that played hard but came up short to Dallas, 2-1.

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                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

by TRAVIS CLARK

September is right around the corner, and this translates into the most important part of the season for MLS clubs fighting for their playoff lives.

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                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

by TRAVIS CLARK

September is right around the corner, and this translates into the most important part of the season for MLS clubs fighting for their playoff lives.

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                                                                  Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis is facing yet another suspension following his latest ejection from a match.

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                                                                  Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis is facing yet another suspension following his latest ejection from a match.

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                                                             Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake fans worried that their team wouldn't be represented in the MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29th can rest easy.

Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan has signed a pre-contract with Danish club Randers, meaning he will leave MLS after the current season to join Randers on January 1, 2010. Movsisyan is in the final year of his MLS contract and is allowed to sign with a new club six months before his current contract expires.

Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan has signed a pre-contract with Danish club Randers, meaning he will leave MLS after the current season to join Randers on January 1, 2010. Movsisyan is in the final year of his MLS contract and is allowed to sign with a new club six months before his current contract expires.

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done.

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done.

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                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

Three stoppage time goals turned what looked to be a 1-0 Real Salt Lake victory into a 2-2 tie as the Los Angeles Galaxy scored both goals in extra time to stay unbeaten on the road.

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                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

Three stoppage time goals turned what looked to be a 1-0 Real Salt Lake victory into a 2-2 tie as the Los Angeles Galaxy scored both goals in extra time to stay unbeaten on the road.

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Good evening all. The new MLS week starts early this time around with a pair of Wednesday night tilts to get things going.

D.C. United is on the road taking on Kansas City tonight (8:30pm kickoff), while the Los Angeles Galaxy look to keep its unbeaten record on the road in tact with a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on Real Salt Lake (9pm).

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Good evening all. The new MLS week starts early this time around with a pair of Wednesday night tilts to get things going.

D.C. United is on the road taking on Kansas City tonight (8:30pm kickoff), while the Los Angeles Galaxy look to keep its unbeaten record on the road in tact with a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on Real Salt Lake (9pm).

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                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

What a difference a week makes.

Last week, Javier Morales spent his Monday being honored as MLS player of the week for his performance in Real Salt Lake's 6-0 destruction of New England.