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SANDY, Utah -- Real Salt Lake is in rare territory. Before this season, U.S. Open Cup matches were not synonymous with success for the MLS club. RSL experienced early exits more often than victories in the nations oldest soccer tournament. It has been a completely different story this time around, and Salt Lake took another big step to winning the cup Wednesday night. Alvaro Saborio scored once and assisted on Joao Platas goal to lead RSL to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers. RSL will host DC United in the championship game Oct. 1 after United beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 earlier in the evening. The winner of the final will qualify for a spot in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League. Salt Lake started on the right foot by attacking relentlessly in the opening moments and it paid off with Saborios goal in the 7th minute. "Scoring early is big for us," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "We reward ourselves from the momentum that we create at the beginning of the match. It is always important. Weve done a good job of that lately." Khari Stephenson forced a corner kick with a shot from distance to set up the scoring play. Following the corner kick, Kyle Beckerman sent a cross into Saborio on the left side of the 6-yard box. He then redirected a header back toward the right post and the ball bounced off the post and in. "It was a very important goal because we needed to score early," Saborio said. "Kyle gave me a very good cross and I got in a good header." Strong play from Nick Rimando kept Portland from answering in the first half. The Timbers got into scoring position several times, but came away empty after some clutch saves from Rimando. The biggest came in the 40th minute when Will Johnson kicked a right-footer down the centre of the box. It looked like a sure goal, but Rimando managed to poke the ball away with his fingertips at the last minute. "I need to figure out what hes eating so I can eat the same thing," Kreis said. Ryan Johnson had another good chance for Portland when he uncorked a header during first-half stoppage time. The ball bounced off the left post. Portland did all the things it needed to do to be in control by halftime. The Timbers dominated possession. They created more shots and put the RSL defence on its heels more often. But finding the finishing touch was a problem. Still, Portland coach Caleb Porter saw some positive trends his team can take back into league play. "Possession doesnt win you games," Porter said. "Shots dont win you games. But if you look at those trends and the stats of how were playing in the flow of the game, theres not major issues. Theres not major things to be alarmed with." Salt Lake finally got another goal from Plata in the 78th minute. Saborio flicked the ball up to Plata outside the top of the box and the reserve forward sent it right back down the middle. RSL has scored 13 goals in four Open Cup matches, the best rate of any team in the tournament. Portland cut the lead in half in the 90th minute. Rimando blocked a shot from Diego Valeri and Valeri collected it on the rebound. He headed the ball back over Rimandos head to bring the Timbers within striking distance. It was too little too late for Portland, which saw its franchise-best run in the U.S. Open Cup end. Now the attention for the Timbers shifts to qualifying for the MLS playoffs. "Were disappointed, but at the end of the day we still have everything to play for in the league," Porter said. "This loss doesnt change that." Cheap Retro Jordans For Sale . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Cheap Jordans For Sale Wholesale . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. http://www.cheapjordanfromchina.com/ . 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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Nobody at Broncos headquarters is second-guessing Gary Kubiaks ill-fated decision to try a 62-yard field goal even though Brandon McManuss miss gave the Chiefs a short field to win it as overtime expired.Not the coach himself.Not his players.Not even his boss.Were in this game to WIN, general manager John Elway tweeted Monday. Although everyones disappointed, we played hard and went down swinging!!!!Kubiak said he would have been conceding a tie at best had he opted to pin the Chiefs deep with a punt instead.While that would have been difficult to take, at least it would have benefited the Broncos (7-4) in the standings, however. With the 30-27 loss, the Broncos (7-4) fell from the top-six in the AFC playoff chase , imperiling their chances of defending their Super Bowl title.That didnt come into Kubiaks equation with Denver facing fourth-and-10 from the K.C. 44 with 1:08 left in overtime Sunday night.During a timeout, he decided to go for the gusto.Its a tough kick but its something hes done and its me showing confidence in him and confidence in our defense if it doesnt happen, Kubiak said. I believe in our football team.When McManus missed, the Chiefs (8-3) got the ball at the Broncos 48 and Cairo Santos banked a 37-yarder off the left upright as time expired.The Broncos players arent joining the chorus of second-guessers.I wouldnt play for a tie, either, Von Miller said.If youre looking for a scapegoat, Aqib Talib offered up Denvers defense, which couldnt close it out after Fowlers 76-yard touchdown catch put the Broncos seemingly safe ahead 24-16 with three minutes left in regulation.With no timeouts, the Chiefs went 75 yards in 13 plays to force overtime. After hitting Tyreek Hill in front of cornerback Bradley Roby at the Denver 3 on fourth-and-10 with 15 seconds left, Alex Smith found Hill for the touchdown and Demetrius Harris for the tying 2-pointer.You give us an eight-point lead, man, Ill bet my game check aint nobodys going to score on us, Talib said.It seemed like a safe bet, though: The Chiefs had averaged just 12 yards on their first dozen drives, half of which were three-and-outs. But the Broncos suddenly fell apart, allowing the tying TD and field goals on both overtime possessions.We put that on us, Talib said. First time that happened. First time the D. hasnt closed the game in a long time. And lesson learned. We had a lot of mistakes, a lot of ppenalties, a lot of busts in coverage.dddddddddddd We can get better from that tape.When Talib arrived at work Monday, he met with receiver Jordan Norwood, whom hed shoved in the back following a second muffed punt that gave Kansas City the ball at midfield in the fourth quarter following a terrific defensive stand.His first muff in the shadow of his own goal line led to a safety and subsequent touchdown return on the free kick, which put Denver in a 9-3 halftime hole despite allowing just 49 yards of offense.His second muff came after the Chiefs were forced to punt from their own end zone on fourth-and-21.As Norwood trudged off the field, an angry Talib shoved him toward the sideline.Talib, Norwood and Kubiak all said Monday that it happened in the heat of the moment and was no longer an issue.I tell our players all the time we battle together, we dont battle each other, Kubiak said.Talib, an emotional player who also bear-hugged Trevor Siemian after his fourth-quarter touchdown throw, said he apologized to Norwood, who said he accepted the gesture and was moving on.We were just playing football, Talib said. We talked about it. Were all good, man.I think its already squashed, Norwood said. Me and Aqib sat down one-on-one and talked a little bit and made sure were on the same page. Hes an emotional player, everybody knows that, everybody sees that, and he wants this team to win -- just as I do.There were a couple of other calls by Kubiak that had the airwaves buzzing Monday.He started Ty Sambrailo at right tackle but had to reinsert Donald Stephenson after an overwhelmed Sambrailo was whistled for holding and allowed two of Justin Houstons three sacks.And he went for the extra point after Fowlers 76-yard touchdown made it 23-16. A successful 2-point conversion would have made it a two-score game. A 2-point failure and its still a seven-point cushion.No, were going up eight right there, Kubiak said.So, he sent out McManus -- same as he would do late in overtime for what would have been the longest overtime field goal in NFL history.My thing is that were going to try to win around here, Kubiak said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '