Real Salt Lake secured three crucial points in the Western Conference's Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, defeating the Seattle Sounders 1-0. Damir Kreilach scored the game-winning goal.

RSL moved into fifth place in the West table thanks to Kreilach's 48th-minute header, his team-leading 10th goal of the season. Seattle, meanwhile, had changed its lineup in preparation for Wednesday's League Cup Final against Liga MX's Club Leon in Las Vegas. RSL got off to a fast start, coming within inches of a highlight-reel opening in the 15th minute thanks to a blistering volley from Aaron Herrera that appeared destined for a Goal of the Year candidate. However, it sailed over the crossbar and was the closest either side came to scoring in a scoreless first half.

Kreilach's close-range header gave the hosts the lead shortly after the restart of the second half. Herrera's outstanding individual performance brought up the opportunity, as he pulled a series of jukes on Brad Smith to create space for an inch-perfect cross that Kreilach finished easily.

RSL kept pressing for a second goal, almost extending their advantage only nine minutes later on a close-range attempt from Albert Rusnak that needed a tremendous kick-save from Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei to keep out of the net. The hosts failed to score an insurance goal, but it was a moot matter as the Sounders' bid for a second-half equalizer fell short.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Abram Iman]