Real Salt Lake

It shut up a bunch of skeptics, roared back for an unprecedented road victory, and knocked off the defending champion and best team in the league.

Yet nobody wanted to christen RSL the new championship favorite in Major League Soccer just yet.

“By no means are we favorites,” defender Nat Borchers said. “I know we in this locker room believe in each other, and we have all season. There's been a lot of doubters out there, but by no means are we favorites. We know that whoever we play, the next round will be away and we know that's going to present a very difficult challenge for us.”

The team must wait until Chicago and New England meet in the second leg of their first-round playoff series on Saturday to learn which opponent it will face next weekend for the right to advance to the MLS Cup championship game Nov. 22 in Seattle.

RSL split victories with New England in the regular season, and tied at home against Chicago after losing on the road.

"Teams that know how to win find ways to win," defender Robbie Russell said.

So much for the worries about referee Baldomero Toledo.

If anything, RSL fans can thank him for granting them a penalty and apparently missing a couple of handball calls for which the Crew were lobbying. But more than that, RSL emerged with a 3-2 victory over defending champion Columbus in the second leg of their first-round Major League Soccer playoff series tonight because of its midfield.

“Our midfield has been playing well, and our defense has been playing well,” midfielder Andy Williams said. “So I knew that once we settled down and started knocking the ball around, I figured our midfield would outplay their midfield.”

Indeed, captain Kyle Beckerman played one of his best games, and Williams and Johnson both were dialed in — especially defensively. Only Javier Morales seemed a bit off his game at times, but he did score a crucial goal and assist on Williams' game-winning strike in the 74th minute, so you'd have to say he played a major role, too.

“Our midfield was unbelievable,” defender Nat Borchers said. “Andy Williams was at the top of his game today.”

The victory gave RSL a 4-2 series victory on aggregate scoring, and sends it through to the MLS Eastern Conference final against either Chicago or New England. Those teams play the second leg of their first-round series in Chicago on Saturday, with the Revs having taken a 2-1 victory at home in the first leg last weekend.

Don't look now RSL fans, but the referee for tonight's pivotal road playoff game against the defending champion Columbus Crew is none other than … Baldomero Toledo.

Gulp.

One of the veteran referees in Major League Soccer, he nevertheless is known for having a quick trigger with red cards and penalty kicks, and has had a rocky history with RSL — including his ejection of defender Jamison Olave with an early red card in a 3-2 loss at Houston earlier this season. Many fans and even some close to the organization worry that Toledo has it out for RSL for some reason, though he has only called three of its games this season.

In those games, RSL has won once and lost twice — beating New York a few weeks ago with little trouble, but losing at Houston and in Seattle in the season-opener. But rest assured, the anxiety is real, particularly with so much on the line and midfielder Kyle Beckerman facing a suspension from the MLS Eastern Conference final, if he picks up another yellow card while helping RSL advance that far.

Another worrisome note?

While RSL has a one-goal advantage going into the second leg of the two-game, aggregate-goals series, higher-seeded teams such as the Crew have bounced back to advance more often after losing the first leg than after tying it. Obviously, RSL hopes it can buck that trend, as well as overcome its 2-11-2 record on the road this season.

Cost, distance and timing probably will keep even the biggest fans from traveling to watch RSL play defending champion Columbus in the second leg of their playoff series at Crew Stadium in Ohio on Thursday night.

So RSL has a solution.

The team is organizing a party for fans who want to get together and watch the game on TV.

The event will take place in the “Club Real” restaurant at Rio Tinto Stadium, where fans can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet and unlimited soft drinks for a $20 cover charge. Beer also will be available for $5 each. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes before kickoff.

Team officials are encouraging prospective attendees to purchase tickets in advance, at www.RealSaltLake.com or www.RioTintoStadium.com.

Coach Jason Kreis acknowledged being surprised by the way the Columbus Crew gambled against his Real Salt Lake team in the first leg of their playoff series, by leaving two of his best players on the bench.

Well, he's not the only one.

The strategy has been a hot topic around Columbus, since RSL basically ruined it with a late goal and a 1-0 victory last weekend, and at least one writer is wondering whether the discouraged Crew have what it takes to bounce back — even with playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelott back in the lineup.

“There is little time remaining,” columnist Michael Arace wrote in the Columbus Dispatch. “Work it out, or those thugs from Salt Lake City will be dancing … and all anyone will remember is that Schelotto was benched for a playoff game.”