SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - Real Salt Lake heads into Wednesday's playoff series finale against Seattle with a three-goal lead, but the players aren't treating this game like the series is over.
"It didn't feel like the end of a game," said Kyle Beckerman about Saturday's 3-0 shutout over the Sounders at Rio Tinto Stadium. "It felt like halftime, and all of our guys are on the same page. Nobody was really celebrating. We all knew there was a lot more work to be done."
"For me, we've got to approach it as if we're 0-0 or maybe 1-0," said head coach Jason Kreis. "It would be a complete disaster if we approached it as if we've got a huge cushion. We need to be aggressive in our mindset still."
That's because Seattle was the highest scoring team in MLS during the regular season, and while a three-goal lead is huge, it isn't insurmountable.
"They're going to come at us with everything," said goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "They're definitely going to be an offensive team. They play like that at home anyway. They're going to be comfortable going for the goals in front of their fans and that huge stadium."
Plus, Real could be without their top two defenders, Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers, who both suffered leg injuries during Saturday's victory.
"It's been a good couple days of icing and elevating my leg," said Borchers, who will be a game-time decision. "So, I'm just hopeful for the game on Wednesday."
If Real wins, ties, or loses by less than three goals, they will advance to the Western Conference Final against either the Los Angeles Galaxy or New York Red Bulls.
