Petke was "knocked out" while Real Salt Lake eliminates doubts about the LAFC

LOS ANGELES – As Jefferson Savarino hit the right-footed ball in the 69th minute to the north of the Banc of California Stadium, few would have imagined it would be the last goal of LAFC's unprecedented expansion season.

What was Savarino doing? Was it a shot? Was it a cross?

For his part, Real Salt Lake coach Mike Petke had no idea – he just knew the game was coming.

"I had to ask for two seconds before coming in here. 'Who scored the third goal?" Said Petke during his post-game press conference. "I do not remember anything. I was making tactical adjustments, we were looking for someone to come in and I saw the scrum in front of me.

In the end, whatever Savarino tried to do, he landed in the back of Tyler Miller's net and scored Walker Zimmerman's goal with a wide deflection of the back side of the LAFC center.

The fact that Petke was too busy with tactical adjustments to see the winner in the 3-2 win of his underdog team on Thursday night is indicative not just of the match, but limbo of the Utah club since their last match of regular season on October 21st in Portland.

"We worked a lot over the last seven to ten days because we had a little more rest, how the match was going to unfold, how we wanted it to go," the coach said. "This LAFC team that we beat tonight is for me one of the best, if not the best, teams of expansion. But if you [pretend] they have been in the league for 10 years, so my opinion will not change. They are one of the best teams in this league, player for player, coach. "

After losing 3-0 to the Timbers, Petke said his team had a one-in-a-million chance in the playoff game, LA Galaxy's favorite favorites beating Houston's Decision Day presented by AT & T and claiming last place in the conference from the West the playoffs of the Audi MLS Cup.

Now his team has taken revenge at the expense of the other club in the Southern California League.

"To be honest with you, I'm currently in the dark," he said, adding that the fact that LAFC lost 5-1 to Salt Lake in the second game of the season was "the One of the most humiliating coaching experiences. "

But after the third goal came in tonight?

"It's one of the best feelings I've had as a coach," he said.

Before scoring this winner, RSL made the most of his limited opportunities (21 to 4 of 21), while Damir Kreilach played the hero with an incredible volley on his second goal.

"This moment was the best option to do that," Kreilach said. "And luckily, the ball was in the goal."

Petke said that the miraculous hit of the Croatian was more than a goal for his teammates.

"The first goal stimulated us and that second goal, even more," said the coach. "What a magnificent goal of Damir. He is one of the greatest leaders of this team since his arrival here, his game, his attitude. "

Petke also praised new central defender Nedum Onuoha, who said the tragedy of recent weeks had been a roller coaster for RSL – a match that continues with the first leg of the conference semifinal on Sunday at home. the Sporting KC.

"It's ridiculous," said Onuoha. "I'm too old for that. It's too stressful. I think at half-time of the LA Galaxy match against Houston, everyone criticized us. It was obviously out of our reach, but in this league, teams can still score and anything can happen.

"I would not say we participated in the playoffs, but now that we're here, I think we're going to be a force."

Petke offered a similar message.

"We deserved to be in the playoffs," he said. "Tonight we proved it."