SANDY, Utah — Jefferson Savarino and Corey Baird scored and Real Salt Lake beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth.
Real Salt Lake (15-13-5) snapped a three-game winless streak and, heading into next Sunday's regular-season finale, can finish as high as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Savarino put away a side-netter from just outside the area to give Real Salt Lake a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute.
Corey Baird stole the ball at midfield, raced downfield and blasted a right-footer from the top of the area that bounced off the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Tyler Deric into the net to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 lead in the opening seconds.