Published 11/9/2012 3:50:35 AM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

Seattle 1 Real Salt Lake 0
The Seattle Sounders passed a huge test on Thursday night in their quest for an MLS championship.  They went to Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto and got a win.  Not many of teams can do that.  Especially in the playoffs.

It took a magical left footed volley from Mario Martinez in the late going to earn the victory.  Seattle and RSL played the opening leg to a 0-0 draw in Seattle and after 80 minutes Thursday they were once again scoreless.  Then the wonder-shot.

A Seattle counter found the ball on the foot of Fredy Montero.  Instead of his usual aggressiveness in looking for a shot he passed.  And a perfect one it was as he lofted the ball perfectly over a RSL defender.  The ball took one hop and the onrushing Mario Martinez smashed a left footed volley that swerved perfectly into the back post side netting.

Real Salt Lake threw everything they had at the Sounders in the final minutes but were unable to even the game.  Seattle advances to the MSL Western Conference Finals to face the Los Angeles Galaxy.


DC United 1 New York Red Bull 0
This was a wild one.  After a 1-1 draw in the opening leg everything was to play for on Thursday night.  The drama began after the hour mark.  Previously the game had seen NY miss chance after chance against DC.  A Dax McCarty ball sent Kenny Cooper in on goal.  DC United keeper Bill Hamid raced out to meet him.  Cooper went past Hamid and tried to hop over him, but went to ground.  Hamid was shown a red card and DC had a penalty kick.

Joe Willis subbed into the game to replace Hamid and could not stop Kenny Cooper's penalty.  The goal was disallowed though as the referee ruled that a Red Bull had entered the area too early.  Cooper would have to shoot again.  This time Joe Willis made the save and the game stayed scoreless.  NY lost their man advantage minutes later when Rafa Marquez was sent off for his second yellow card.

DC United would steal it late in the 88th minute of play.  A perfect Robbie Russell pass freed Nick DeLeon who finished past Luis Robles for the 1-0 win.

"Mostly when it's New York as the opponent," United coach Ben Olsen said when asked if he had been involved in such a game. "It's an absolute zoo these games."

DC United advance to face the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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