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SPORTS Friday 25 OctOber 2019
Sounders advance to West finals with 2-0 win over Salt Lake

By TIM BOOTH Sounders needed on a
AP Sports Writer night Rimando kept RSL in
SEATTLE (AP) — Nick Riman- the game.
do did all he could for the While RSL controlled pos-
first hour in an attempt to session, Seattle dominated
prolong his career for one scoring chances, seem-
more game and frustrate ingly each one getting
the Seattle Sounders. closer to finally getting past
Gustav Svensson finally Rimando. Leerdam had
found the breakthrough a pair of chances denied
and with it began the early in the second half.
eventual end to the career Rimando first batted away
for one of the best goal- a volleyed attempt then
keepers in MLS history. made a quick reaction to
"We know we have guys keep Leerdam's deflected
who can finish chances, cross off Nedum Onuoha
but Rimando, in his last from going in for an own
game, he was amazing," goal.
Seattle's Kelvin Leerdam Just moments before Svens-
said. son's goal, Rimando tipped
Svensson scored his sec- Cristian Roldan's header
ond career playoff goal over the crossbar at the last
in the 64th minute, Nicolas Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, center, leaps as a shot goes wide and Seattle Sounders moment.
Lodeiro added the cap- forward Jordan Morris, left, and Real Salt Lake defender Aaron Herrera, right, watch during the first But Rimando was helpless
per in the 81st minute and half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal playoff soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in on Seattle's breakthrough.
the Sounders advanced to Seattle. The corner kick from Lo-
the Western Conference fi- Associated Press deiro came to the near
nal for the third time in four and opponents. It was a tunately, we didn't come the conference final next post and without a de-
seasons with a 2-0 win over memorable farewell to MLS out on the right side of the Tuesday. The Sounders will fender on the goal line at
Real Salt Lake on Wednes- after 20 seasons for Riman- results." host if it's the Galaxy; they the post Rimando couldn't
day night. do, who was the best play- Rimando finished with sev- will go to Southern Cali- react in time.
Svensson flicked a head- er for Salt Lake but couldn't en saves in his final game. fornia if LAFC is their op- "It was a great corner.
er off a corner kick past withstand all of Seattle's He will leave MLS as the ponent. Seattle won each We've been working on
Rimando midway through pressure and was eventu- league leader in wins, of its last two trips to the that for a long time now,"
the second half after Se- ally beaten late. saves, shutouts and games. conference final under the Svensson said.
attle had dominated scor- "This is the end of my ca- "Tomorrow? I'm going to old format of the MLS Cup Lodeiro's insurance goal
ing chances all night. It was reer, but maybe I'll stay take my kids to school in the playoffs. was started by a perfect
Svensson's first goal of the in the game somehow," morning. ... I'll wake up and "Organizationally this fran- pass from Brad Smith to
season, and Lodeiro pro- Rimando said. "Right now, get them breakfast and chise has always been Raul Ruidiaz, who smartly
vided the capper 17 min- it sucks because we want- check them into school. about winning and we left it off for Lodeiro to finish.
utes later. ed to go a bit further, even Then kick my feet up and want to continue that," Salt Lake's Everton Luiz was
When the final whistle blew, though people didn't have have a couple whiskeys Seattle coach Brian shown a red card in the
Rimando stood in the pen- us in mind. The guys gave it maybe, and relax," Riman- Schmetzer said. 85th minute for a challenge
alty area for a few minutes, their all. All we could have do said. Svensson's role for Seattle on Svensson. RSL finished
accepting handshakes done is give it our all and Seattle will face Los Ange- is a defensive midfielder, with just seven shots and
and hugs from teammates that's what we did. Unfor- les FC or the LA Galaxy in but he was the scorer the only one on target.q

Conor McGregor says his UFC return fight set for January

MOSCOW (AP) — Conor The 31-year-old McGregor Ferguson. "I'm going to go
McGregor will return to hasn't fought since losing through the entire roster
mixed martial arts in Janu- by submission to Khabib like a chain saw through
ary with a UFC fight in Las Nurmagomedov in Octo- butter," he said.
Vegas. ber 2018. He was banned Nurmagomedov's father
The Irish fighter said Thurs- for six months and fined and coach, Abdulma-
day he will return "fully fo- $50,000 for his part in a nap, said his unbeaten
cused" on Jan. 18 at the post-fight brawl. son would have little diffi-
T-Mobile Arena. "That is McGregor said he is tar- culty defeating McGregor
my comeback fight. It is 12 geting two more fights, again. "If he's ready for
weeks this Saturday. I am in including a rematch with it, then we'll beat him up
prime physical condition. Nurmagomedov in Mos- in Moscow," Abdulma-
I have agreed the date cow. He also aimed a nap Nurmagomedov
with the company," Mc- string of insults at the Rus- told Russia's state news
Gregor said, adding that sian fighter. agency Tass. "It won't be UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Conor McGregor
he knows his opponent's After the Jan. 18 fight, Mc- a rematch, it'll be another gestures during a news conference in Moscow, Russia,
name but won't reveal it. Gregor said he would then bout with a beating." Mc- Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019.
"If I was to give you people like to fight the winner of Gregor's return comes as Associated Press
the name, which I would the Nov. 3 bout between he faces more legal issues. peared to punch a man in run-up to his next fight.
love to do, I know the UFC Nate Diaz and Jorge Mas- He is facing an assault a bar. He said he is plan- "I am focused here," Mc-
would flip it because they vidal, followed by either charge in Ireland over an ning to abstain from alco- Gregor said. "I am struc-
are a crafty company." Nurmagomedov or Tony incident in which he ap- hol and late nights in the tured now."q