Bobby Wood's stoppage-time goal gave Real Salt Lake a 2-1 triumph against Sporting Kansas City in Sunday's Western Conference Semifinal, sealing another historic MLS Cup Playoffs result for the 2021 season. Real Salt Lake, the Western Conference's seventh seed, advanced to the Western Conference Final to face the Portland Timbers after overturning a first-half deficit to upset Sporting KC on penalty kicks in Round One. After Aaron Herrera tripped Gadi Kinda in the box, Johnny Russell scored with a clinical penalty kick to David Ochoa's right in the 24th minute. On the edge of the 18-yard box, Kinda had latched onto a headed clearance by Justen Glad. Sporting came close to increasing their advantage five minutes into the second half when an enticing Kinda free-kick was headed off the post and out for a corner kick by Pablo Ruiz.

But, with three vital replacements, RSL interim coach Pablo Mastroeni turned the game around, with Anderson Julio, Justin Meram, and Wood all playing key roles in the comeback. Because SKC was sloppy in the attacking third, the visitors gained confidence as the second half progressed, creating an anxious atmosphere at Children's Mercy Park. Julio beat Andreu Fontàs to a great assist by Andrew Brody in the 72nd minute, heading in the tying goal from just beyond the six-yard box. Then, in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Wood struck the game-winner, slipping Meram's pass past Melia as the underdogs marched on with more late magic.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Trevor Hellman]