SANDY, Utah — Jefferson Diaz then scored the decisive goal in a 5-4 shootout Minnesota and Real Salt Lake played out a scoreless draw in regulation, and United defeated RSL in the first game of a best-of-three series on Tuesday night.
It was Minnesota’s first MLS Cup playoff victory on a penalty kick in club history. United can clinch a place in the Western Conference semi-finals on Saturday with another win over RSL.
Diaz sent RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath the wrong way in the sixth round, before Braian Ojeda’s shot hit the crossbar.
Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair secured his eighth clean sheet of the season.
MacMath dived left to deny Minnesota defender Michael Boxall in the third round of penalties, but RSL defender Justen Glad followed with a shot that sailed over the crossbar to keep the score at 2.
MacMath guessed correctly in the fourth round, but Jeong Sang-Bin’s shot went under him and into the net.
RSL’s last home playoff loss came in 2019 against Seattle.
