It was the most recent heroic moment from Kreilach, who deflected in Justin Meram’s bicycle kick for his 16th — and most important — goal of the season as RSL got the win they needed to reach the postseason. As the No. 7 seed, Real Salt Lake will go to Lumen Field to meet the second-seeded Seattle Sounders.
Sporting Kansas City, which needed a win to finish first in the Western Conference, are the No. 3 seed and will host the sixth-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps in Round One.
After a first half with one combined shot on frame, the game opened up for both after halftime. Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa was peppered in the opening five minutes of the second half with Khiry Shelton forcing a turnover just outside the RSL box before slipping the ball to Daniel Salloi. The Landon Donovan MVP candidate was denied by Ochoa, who also stopped an attempt from distance by Luis Martins seconds later.
RSL interim coach Pablo Mastroeni made a double change in the 71st minute, bringing on Bobby Wood and Meram for much-needed attacking punch.
Three minutes later, Meram tried to pick out the far post, but Tim Melia dived to parry away from the edge of the six-yard box.
Cam Duke nearly came off the substitute’s bench to be the hero, taking a touch into the box, but the young SKC midfielder fired his low shot just wide of the far post five minutes from full time.
Sporting had a penalty shout in the 90th minute when a ball took a touch off Justen Glad’s hands, but it didn’t warrant a full Video Review.
In the second of five minutes of stoppage time, Anderson Julio fired just over bar for RSL. And just when it appeared Real Salt Lake would fall just short, Kreilach delivered at the death.
