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Needing a three-goal victory to have any chance of advancing to the Western Conference final, the Sounders managed only a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday at CenturyLink Field.
That wasn’t enough to overcome the hole the Sounders had dug with a 3-0 loss in the first game of the aggregate-score semifinal series at Sandy, Utah, on Saturday .
That sent the Sounders into the deciding game needing almost everything to go right for them. Instead, it started going wrong almost immediately.
In the third minute Fredy Montero missed wide from close range. Before the 22nd minute, half the starting midfielders – Alvaro Fernandez and Brad Evans – were out with injuries. In the 37th minute, a Brad Parke shot on goal was headed away by defender Tony Beltran. In the 42nd minute, a Montero goal was waved off because he bumped goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Seattle finally broke through in the 56th minute, when Osvaldo Alonso knocked in a penalty kick.
The second goal came seven minutes later, this time with Lamar Neagle finishing, assisted by Montero and Alonso.
Kasey Keller, playing his final game, came up with one dazzling final save in the 79th minute, stopping Fabian Espindola on a breakaway.
That kept Seattle within striking distance. But the Sounders never got the goal they needed.
frantic final minutes keep it interesting
Real Salt Lake sees Real Seattle Sounders. Dave Boling, Page B3
Sporting K.C. in eastern Conference finals
Kansas City beats Colorado for second straight time, 2-0. Page B3
