SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – There were conflicting feelings of relief and elation after Real Salt Lake suffered a 2-1 loss to Deportivo Saprissa, while still advancing to the Champions League final thanks to a 3-2 aggregate lead.
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“I’m going to need some time to digest it,” manager Jason Kreis said. “I’m feeling a little bit bittersweet about it all at the moment. Obviously, it’s a historical moment, but we would have liked to have advanced in a little bit more impressive fashion.”
RSL managed a near perfect first half, only to concede a goal in the opening minute of the second half, which invited the pressure of a Saprissa team that smelled blood and a chance to even the series on goals.
Then came Jamison Olave’s goal on a corner kick that bounced off a Saprissa defender in the box before falling to the Colombian near the penalty spot.
“It’s ecstasy,” Kreis said. “At that moment – and for most of the game – we were under a great deal of duress, stress and emotion. It was a difficult, difficult game for us.
“That goal got us through to the next leg. But what we did at home turned out to be extremely, extremely important.”
RSL now looks ahead to the final series against Cruz Azul or Monterrey on April 20 and 27.
“We did accomplish something, there’s no doubt about it,” Kreis said. “But I think all of us feel that the real history is to be made in the next round.”
