Seattle Sounders through to Western Conference final

MLS Playoffs | Playoffs

Nov 9, 2012 at 2.30am UK

Roberto Martínez

Mario Martinez's late goal sees Seattle Sounders defeat Real Salt Lake 1-0 away from home and qualify for the Western Conference final.

Published: November 9 2012 | 05:37

Last updated: November 9 2012 | 13:06

Seattle Sounders have reached the final of the MLS Western Conference with a 1-0 away victory over Real Salt Lake.

Mario Martinez's strike nine minutes from time at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah saw Sigi Schmid's side edge past their hosts 1-0 on aggregate over the two-legged semi-final tie.

However, things could have turned out differently had the hosts taken their chances early in the match.

Ned Grabavoy forced Michael Gspurning into making a good save in the 10th minute and nine minutes later Paulo Junior's attempt went narrowly wide.

Seattle too had their chances in the first 45 minutes, Christian Tiffert's shot going just wide and Martinez's free kick drawing out a fantastic save from Nick Rimando off the crossbar.

The visitors could have taken the lead in the early moments of the second half had Rimando not been alert to a ferocious attempt from Brad Evans.

Real, though, started asserting themselves on the match thereafter, with Javier Morales and Nat Borchers testing Seattle goalkeeper Gspurning.

Then with nine minutes left on the clock Seattle scored the winner, as Martinez volleyed home Fredy Montero's cross from the right.

Seattle will now take on LA Galaxy in the Western Conference final.

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Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21