We told you it felt like last year’s Playoff opener. How about a late, late goal (88th minute from Robbie Findley, to be exact) for a 1-0 victory to complete the comparisons?

What did you think?

We’re certainly excited for the return leg in Columbus on Thursday…

It’s been almost one year to the day since RSL made it’s MLS Cup Playoff debut and today we’re back again. There are plenty of parallels that we can draw between last year’s match and this year’s as well.

You may recall, last year we were paired up against Chivas USA in our first-ever Playoff series. Just weeks after opening Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time, we saw a beautiful fall afternoon roll around (much like today) on November 1st and we kicked off our Playoff lives in style.

For our money, that match against Chivas, despite winning by only a 1-0 scoreline (on Yura Movsisyan’s second straight 90th minute goal), was the best performance in RSL history. We outshot Chivas 21 to 3 on the day while maintaining constant pressure on the Goats’ backline.

Let’s hope we can put another one of those out there. We’ll see you here…

The guys over at MLSnet’s ExtraTime are talkin’ Playoffs and, more specifically, Eastern Conference Playoffs. Check out what they’ve got to say about us below…

So we were greeted this morning with some pretty sweet photos in our inbox. SGT Lucas Chapman and his Unit, The 96th Sustainment Brigade out of Fort Douglas, Utah may have left their everyday lives behind when they left Salt Lake five months ago, but they certainly didn’t leave their RSL fandom at home! Upon getting word earlier this week that RSL has qualified for the Playoffs, SGT Chapman and his crew got together and snapped some shots to show their support for the squad…

We’d like to thank SGT Chapman and his Unit for their support of RSL, but, more importantly, for the work they are doing for us in Iraq. It is easy to get caught up in everything going on here, but it’s important that we remember the sacrifices that so many people make to allow us to live the lives that we do here. Thank you to all who make that possible!!!

We caught up with a few of the guys to hear what they thought of this Saturday’s MLS Cup Playoffs first leg vs. Columbus. Take a peek below to see what they are feelin’…

If you regularly follow Real Salt Lake, you know that veteran midfielder (and RSL’s longest tenured player) Andy Williams has been on a very impressive run of form in recent months. It’s great to see Andy back out contributing and enjoying his time on the pitch, with everything that he’s been through over the last couple years.

We caught up with a few of the guys yesterday to see what they had to say about Andy’s run…

Talk about finishing with a flourish! Robbie Findley did just that … at least according to MLS fans, who voted his second goal in last Saturday’s 3-0 whoopin’ of Colorado as the last MLS Goal of the Week of the 2009 regular season (Week 32 for those of you counting). The MLS Player of the Week for Week 32 all but put the nail in the Rapids’ collective coffin on Saturday in the 33rd minute, when he ran onto Andy Williams’ dandy 50-yard ball over the Colorado backline and popped the ball over an onrushing Preston Burpo before finishing with a classy left-footed half-volley for his 12th and final goal of the regular season. Don’t believe the description and want to see it for yourself? Then just click here or visit MLSnet.com and click on the “Goal of the Week” banner.

Then all you have to do is sign up for the RSLexpress in-seat delivery service in advance of Saturday’s big game against Columbus and you’ll automatically be entered to win! Just head on over to RSLexpress.com now and sign-up to be entered into the jersey giveaway drawing … and if you decide to “trick-or-treat from your seat” by placing an order at the game on Saturday, you’ll get an extra entry into the drawing each time you order.

The weather’s turning a bit and, as a result, we’ve started seeing people on the street wearing that winter staple, the scarf. Well, our merch team would like to make those RSL scarves. That’s why, for the rest of the week, you can score yourself an official RSL scarf for just $10 (normally $20). Get over to the Team Store and get yourself one for this weekend’s playoff match…

So you’re getting home from ye olde “9-to-5″ and need a way to unwind? And you also haven’t gotten your daily fix of everything RSL? Well here’s your way to kill two birds with one stone … tune into Park City TV (Comcast 102) at 6:00 p.m. and watch RSL sideline boss Jason Kreis on tonight’s edition of Mountain Views with host and RSL aficionado Ori Hoffer. “Coach K” will join Ori following the show’s intro to talk about RSL’s miraculous march to the playoffs and what fans can expect when the Columbus Crew come to town for Leg One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals this Saturday in Sandy. Not near a TV? Then tune in online by clicking here or visiting parkcity.tv.