MLS: Seattle 1, Real Salt Lake 0

Mario Martinez scored from a bad angle in the 81st minute Thursday, putting Seattle into the Western Conference finals with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake had most of the chances throughout the contest, putting nine shots on goal and having 20 minutes more possession time than did the Sounders. The one strike by Martinez, however, set up a conference finals meeting between Seattle and Los Angeles. Seattle and Salt Lake played to an 0-0 tie in the first leg of their two-match, aggregate-score series and another scoreless draw seemed likely as time ticked away on Thursday. The attack that led to the only goal did not look promising when Fredy Montero took the ball deep down the right side and lofted a long pass toward the left corner of the penalty area. Martinez was just outside the box when the ball arrived and he sent a one-time shot with his left foot sizzling across the goal mouth. It just eluded the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Nick Rimando and settled inside the right post. It was the first goal Martinez had scored for Seattle and came in just his fourth game with the club. Seattle goalie Michael Gspurning completed his second consecutive playoff shutout by saving all nine shots he faced.