After coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals at Rio Tinto Stadium, Sporting Kansas City know exactly what they must do against Real Salt Lake in Sunday's decisive second leg at Children's Mercy Park—the club's first home playoff match since edging RSL on penalties in the 2013 MLS Cup.
Manager Peter Vermes' side can advance to the Western Conference Championship of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with either a win or a scoreless draw. A home victory over RSL would see top-seeded Sporting KC advance on aggregate, while a 0-0 tie would give the hosts the away goals tiebreaker. Conversely, a draw involving four or more total goals (2-2, 3-3, etc.) would give the away goals tiebreaker to No. 6 seed RSL.
Should Sporting KC and RSL play to another 1-1 stalemate on Sunday, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played in their entirety with away goals no longer serving as a tiebreaker. If still deadlocked after extra time, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.
Sunday's showdown will kick off at 2 p.m. CT, and a limited number of tickets remain available via SeatGeek.com. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the game live nationally as Sporting KC make their highly anticipated postseason return to Children's Mercy Park.
RSL took a 51st-minute lead in the first leg on an impressive side volley from Albert Rusnak, but Sporting KC striker Diego Rubio bagged a superb 60th-minute equalizer less than a minute after coming off the bench as a substitute.
