LAFC 2, RSL 3: Kreilach's brace helps visitors oust expansion side

What a ride.

In a ridiculously entertaining match at the Banc of California Stadium, Real Salt Lake overcame a 2-1 deficit, an onslaught of chances that came from every possible angle, mayhem from the stands, a tough, physical battle and a hostile crowd to beat LAFC 3 -2 in the knockout round of the MLS playoffs.

Aside from the overwhelming possession and the 21 shots from the host team, Real Salt Lake is surviving with a brace from Damir Kreilach (the second goal was magical) and a deflected shot in the 69th minute.

LAFC fans shamelessly did everything they could to disrupt their workhorse Nick Rimando, the game was going to be thrown at the 39-year-old goalkeeper after Danilo Silva heroic goalkeeper stood on her ground and helped her side beat the expansion team and book a spot in the Western semifinal conference against Sporting Kansas City.

It was a rollercoaster of a game where resilience, led by Rimando, outlasted ingenuity. Here are three thoughts on a crazy game:

Counterattacking magic

A lot of credit should go to RSL manager Mike Petke, who is a highly resilient strategy player, and one of his followers. Yes, the visitors did concede two goals due to careless defending, but they knew that for every shot they would have, it would certainly leave the gaps when defending in transition. All RSL needed to be made compact, overload the midfield and take chances when that happened.

Kreilach's second goal was a thing of beauty but it was also due to LAFC's constant ball watching and miscommunication the moment the team lost the ball.

The winner from Jefferson Savarino's deflected shot (ending up as Zimmerman Walker's own goal) was an example of the same issues.

Every time he was picked up the ball, he looked for a chance to pounce on the counter and did not get much of it. Petke might have liked, especially in the first half, the manager knew that the chances would come.

Laurent Ciman's absence still felt

At the beginning of the season, the Belgian center back and LAFC's captain was a vital part of this team, as it was not just leadership but disciplined, calming presence at the back. Ciman left for Ligue 1's Dijon in August, and his absence was clearly felt Thursday. Real Salt Lake's first goal was a perfect example of miscommunication and an inability to close a cross and mark the target man. The goal of a volleyball game from Kreilach, LAFC's defenders were not concentrating and Kreilach made them pay. It was not good enough.

For all the offensive glamor, LAFC needed to be more organized at the back and Silva, despite scoring, needed to be that figure next to Zimmerman. Jordan Harvey also failed to close the wings. We knew that LAFC could have scored goals, the goal was to become its biggest obstacle. Ciman, who was the militant voice, was sorely missed.

RSL's midfield: no bells and whistles

Kyle Beckerman was key, he never really left the back oven more than a few yards. His midfield partners, Luke Mulholland and Albert Rusnak, also worked tirelessly to keep Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi quiet-an incredibly difficult task, but they were not sure they would.

LAFC prides itself on aggressive, fast offense, but these three slow down the game and protect their back at every opportunity. And that was the key for Real Salt Lake: Counter the strategy and slow the pace of the game. After the third goal was scored, a sense of frustration overtook LAFC, and RSL knew the job was done.