Real Salt Lake

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 early (so did everybody, really), 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.