Having disposed of LA Galaxy to get to this position the week before, i knew confidence was brimming through the players. We had been successful in every other encounter against Portland this season, so that day be any different?
Cameras and fans started to pack the stadium, and a warm buzz started flowing around the stands. There was a lot of anticipation for this game, it was not only for a place in the semi-final, it was also a grudge match. That became apparent as the players walked onto the pitch, the Portland team greeted with a mutual respect, and the Seattle team greeted with a tremendous roar. The roar was ongoing right up until Darlington Nagbe got the game under way.

The first 5 minutes passed without an effort on goal, both teams trying their best to retain possession and calm themselves down a bit. Seven minutes in, and Alonso had brought down Will Johnson on the half way line. Not expecting much danger from the resulting free kick i glanced around at the crowd. To my surprise Will Johnson had taken the kick quickly, and with his pass had found Darlington Nagbe on the run. Nagbe was through now and one-on-one with Gspurning. Gspurning rushed out, doing his best effort to make himself big. But it was no good, Nagbe had lobbed him, and was peeling away to the away fans. 1-0 Portland.

"Calm down!" I found myself shouting. My players seemed a bit disgruntled at having conceded such an early goal, and were trying hard to win the ball back. Normally i wouldn't mind that, but tackles were flying in everywhere. It took another 10 minutes before anyone to fashion an opportunity on goal, and it started with a throw in by our corner flag. Johansson had thrown in long to Martinez, who did a neat bit of trickery to round his opposite midfielder. The speedy youngster turned on his boost and sprinted to the opposing byline, avoiding challenges all around him. Slowing down enough to stop the ball from going out, he turned, and whipped in a killer ball aiming for Eddie Johnson. Johnson rose, got higher than his marker, and nodded it home. 1-1.

Chances were coming thick and fast now as the game had stepped up a gear, with Portland controlling possession. Just after the half hour mark, we found ourselves in control of the ball in the opposition's final third. The ball fell to Ochoa, who attempted an ambitious pass to pick out Eddie Johnson. The lofted ball was headed away by the defender, but the clearance only fell to Martinez just outside the area. Martinez spotted his opportunity and struck it, hitting the ball as hard as he could. It looked good, and was heading goal-wards. "YYYEESSS!!!" We all scream, but only to be silenced as the ball clattered the post, instead of the net. Instead of bouncing clear, however, the ball rebounded off the back of Donovan Rickett's head. This time we all got up, and were allowed to celebrate, the ball had gone in. Own Goal by Donovan Ricketts. 2-1 Seattle.

Merely 7 minutes later, we found ourselves in another good position. Sammy Ochoa had the ball on the edge of the area. Waiting for options, he stood still. "What's he doing?" i said. "He's going to lose it." With a little flick of his boot, Ochoa had passed the defender and was inside the area, baring down on goal. With his side-foot, he had beaten the on rushing keeper, and extended our lead to 2 goals. "I take it back" i said to my chuckling assistant. 3-1 Seattle.

We'd only just settled down, before Ochoa had robbed the ball from Silvestre from kick off. Using his pace he advanced a few extra meters, and switched play nicely to Martinez. With no defender to compete with, Martinez had time to control the ball, set himself and then put a ball in. Yet again Eddie Johnson rose highest, and yet again he had beaten the keeper. The stunned silence on the Portland bench confirmed that they had it all to do. 2 goals in 2 minutes. 4-1 Seattle.

Looking up at the scoreboard at the start of the second half, i was still amazed that it read "Seattle 4-1 Portland". The second half started much like the first did, both teams trying hard to settle with possession. Much like the first half, 8 minutes in there was a chance, but this time, for Seattle. Ochoa had once again found himself in acres of space, and hit a curling effort to the top corner. The groan of the crowd told you that Ricketts had pulled off a good save, and the even louder groan told you that Danso had stopped it from going out for a corner. His clearance fell to Martinez 30 yards out, who hit it on the half-volley over ambitiously. "I don't believe it!" I cried, as the ball flew into the top corner. "What a hit son!" 5-1 Seattle.

Realising that the game was more or less out of sight now, i decided to bring on the youngster, Will Bates. Just 17 years of age, and a rising star, he came on for a very tired Eddie Johnson. Just 2 minutes after coming on, he found himself with an opportunity to score. Through on goal, one-on-one, hit it with his side foot...."Blimey." He'd scored, we'd put 6 past our rivals. 6-1 Seattle.

The rest of the match panned out rather uneventful, with Portland scoring two late consolation goals (Nagbe and Mosquera), but when the final whistle blew i couldn't contain how happy i was. Hugging everyone i could, i knew this day will go down in memory.

FT;

Seattle Sounders - 6

"24 "40 Eddie Johnson
"32 Donovan Ricketts O.G
"39 Sammy Ochoa
"53 Mario Martinez
"67 Will Bates

Portland Timbers - 3

"7 "72 Darlington Nagbe
"78 Hanyer Mosquera

After such a convincing win over Portland, our attention had to turn immediately to the home time again Real Salt Lake. They had ended up top of the league, and were in a rich vein of form. But then again, so were we.

The players took the Century Link Field to a sea of green scarves, and with butterflies still in me, Eddie Johnson got the game under way. Immediately Real Salt Lake were on the attack with Ned Grabavoy playing a lofted ball through to Javier Morales. Morales hit the ball on the half volley only for it be palmed behind by Hehnemann. The resulting corner only led to a goal kick, and play soon died down. Just after quarter of an hour, one of our attacks had broken down, and Saborio was on the break. His speed and control only got him so far, but his pass to Morales was just as good, and so was the return pass. Suddenly Saborio was baring down on our goal and with a deft flick of his right boot, he had sent the ball passed an on looking Hehnmann. 1-0 Real Salt Lake.

"This half has gone completely tits up" I told my assistant as it loomed closer to half time. Looking around the field, I was trying to find something to change, something to make it work. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Martinez attempt a rather over ambitious pass, which somehow worked, and landed right where Zakuani was asking for it. Noticing an unmarked Johnson, he slide a pass across the floor and made a little dart in the area to latch onto the return pass. Controlling it with his chest, and taking it down with his left foot, he managed to steady himself and rifle it home for a well worked equaliser. 1-1.

The half time team talk had been and gone, and I came out to the second half much expecting an improved performance. That's exactly what I got. Five minutes in, we had picked up a free kick after a rather harsh decision against Maric. Needless to say the ball was on the edge of the "D", and well inside striking range. I had expected Zakuani to take it, he's taken them in training and it was his good work that led to the set piece. However, it was Mario Martinez who stepped up, which surprised me because Martinez has had a really quite game. Martinez positioned himself over the ball, and waited for the whistle to blow. "This could a good chance to take the lead!" I thought to myself. "Just don't strike it miles over the bar."
"YYYYEEEESSSSSSS" was the eruption from the crowd. Martinez had beaten the wall, and the keeper and managed to find the top corner with a simply brilliant free kick. "I guess we know who's taking the free kicks from now on!" My assistant joked. 2-1 Seattle.

Things were looking good for us with just over 10 minutes left, then we conceded a corner. Not wanting to concede an equaliser, I instructed that everyone should be defending it. Even so, Robbie Findley rose highest out of everyone, and connected with the ball. Time almost went in slow motion as the watched the ball travel goalwards. I was hoping that lady luck was on our side. She was. The header was inches wide, and it only resulted in a goal kick. There was a collective sigh of relief around the ground as everyone knew that we'd just dodged a bullet.

When the final whistle blew, i barely thought about celebrating. My mind was too busy trying to prepare for the away leg. All we needed was a draw and we were through.

Seattle Sounders - 2

"44 Steve Zakuani
"50 Mario Martinez

Real Salt Lake - 1

"18 Alvaro Saborio

Taking a one goal lead into the second leg against a team like Real Salt Lake was massive. All we needed was a draw or a win. A loss of one goal would send it to extra-time, and a loss by more was not worth thinking about.
We got the game under way, and were immediately robbed of possession. Morales sprinted down the left wing and produced a cross for the approaching Saborio, who rose first, but headed over. "Let's hope the rest of the game doesn't end up like that" I told the bench as I sat back down again.

The next half an hour seemed to drag past with little action on goal. The only really efforts came from long range and were high and wide. We were still struggling with possession, so when the Half Time whistle blew, I knew I had to say something.

"I know you must realise how important this game is to us, but all we need is a draw. This result. I'm happy if this stays 0-0, but come on guys, sort it out. You keep attempting the over elaborate passes, and they're not working. Keep it cool, keep it simple. When you get back out there, i want to see good passes, and more opportunities on goal" I'm not sure if it would work, but it's all I could do.

To my disappointment, the second half started just how the first half ended. Little chances to score, and possession being wasted all over the place. Just after an hour had passed, Ned Grabavoy pinged a delightful pass through to Morales, who had beaten the offside trap. "Shit, this is it" I thought. When Morales ripped his boot through the ball i closed my eyes, expecting to hear a massive cheer from the home fans. Instead i was greeted with a loud groan, and a collective applause of encouragement. Opening my eyes, i saw the ball roll away for a goal kick. He had hit the post.

It was only 4 minutes from time now, things were looking good. We could be on our way to the western final. Then Ianni slipped, allowing Grabavoy through. The player that had been doing so well all match now had the goal to his mercy. He didn't disappoint, finding the bottom left corner and sprinting away to his teams mates. "Shit." 1-0 Real Salt Lake. 2-2 Agg.

I was looking forward to the full time whistle 6 minutes ago, but when it blew there was a fresh wave of nerves inside me. The match had gone to extra time, and I had been forced to take of a very tired Eddie Johnson, for a very young Will Bates. It was a gamble, one that I wasn't very confident on.

The first half got under way, and after 6 or 7 minutes we had failed to find a way through. Just before 10 minutes had passed, Lamar Neagle has been dispossessed on the half way line by Beltran, who then threaded a ball through Grabavoy. "Someone close him down for crying out loud!" I shouted as Grabavoy ran a few yards forward without any trouble. Neagle came charging towards him, but Grabavoy had already picked his man. His 20 yard pass to Beckerman was pin-point and left him in acres of space. Beckerman turned on the ball, positioned himself, and released a piledriver. Before Gspurning could do anything the ball had already travelled into the net. 2-0 Real Salt Lake. 3-2 Agg.

The half time whistle had been and gone, and we had started to play desperate football. "On the floor lads!" I found myself shouting about 3 times a minute. Two minutes gone, and after great footwork from Gonzalez, we had a perfect opportunity to cross. The ball floated in, and beat Ochoa at the near post. The keeper came out the punch it, but missed it all together, collapsing to the floor in the heap. Will Bates, the youngster i had brought on as a gamble, rose higher than his marker and met the ball with his head. There was pandemonium in the away dug out, some how we'd equalised. Bates came running towards the bench where all of the remaining subs jumped on him. It was a glorious moment for us, but more importantly for Will. 2-1 Real Salt Lake. 3-3 Agg.

The goal had given us momentum, but with the time remaining, we couldn't find another way through. This would have to be settled by penalties.

FT;

Real Salt Lake - 2

"86 Ned Grabavoy
"99 Kyle Beckerman

Seattle Sounders - 1

"108 Will Bates

Last night proved to be a night to forget to Seattle fans, as they saw their side crash out of the Western Semi-final, losing 4-3 on penalties. Taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg, things looked good for the Sounders, but goals from Grabavoy and Beckerman meant that they had to scramble an extra time goal to take it to penalties.

With the penalty scores resting on 4-3 in Real Salt Lake's favour after Martinez saw his penalty saved, it was down the captain Alonso to attempt to keep Seattle in it. The penalty was good, but the save was even better and Real Salt Lake progress to the next round.

Speaking after the game, Abbott said; "It's awful for us, but what else can you do? We tried out best, and for the short time i've been here that's been enough. I'll evaluate the squad pre-season and make changes accordingly."

Late scorer, Will Bates, had this to say; "On a personal level, it was great to get the equalising goal and score my penalty. But for the club it's been a real heartache. We can only say thank you to the fans for supporting us, and we'll try better next season"

"It must be tough for them, i've been in that position" said MotM winner Ned Grabavoy. "But it's great to see us come back from 2-1 down in the first leg. Hopefully soon to be champions"