Real Salt Lake clinches an MLS playoff berth with a last minute bicycle kick

RSL wrote in a statement that Kreilach’s 16 th goal of the season secures the victory for the Club and seventh position in the postseason bracket.

The two sides battled back and forth in the first half, with most of the first 45 minutes being played out in the midfield. Interim Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s back four were able to thwart several potential offensive threats, with goalkeeper David Ochoa twice coming up big to maintain the clean sheet. RSL created some scoring opportunities, but the Club saw their chances bounce wide of goal and the two sides entered the locker room deadlocked 0-0 at the halftime break.

The second half saw both sides continue to fight for control of the match, equally splitting the possession. David Ochoa came up big, making three second-half saves to keep RSL’s postseason hopes alive. Approaching the end of regulation time Anderson Julio broke out down the middle of the field, laying off a pass to Albert Rusnak, but he saw his shot block and the ensuing shot soared over the crossbar.

In the final moments of extra time Real Salt Lake began pressuring Sporting’s goal, forcing goalkeeper Tim Melia to punch out several shots. However, in the final minute of the match, Melia punched out Aaron Herrera’s cross at the feet of Everton Luiz who attempted a shot that was redirected into the path of Justin Meram. Meram leaned back and bicycle-kicked the ball towards goal, and Kreilach stuck a foot out and directed it into the back of the net to secure the dramatic 1-0 victory and solidify a place in the postseason, wrote RSL in a statement.

Real Salt Lake will face the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.