The Columbus Crew rode the league's best record to the MLS Cup in 2008, and figured to have a good shot at doing the same thing heading into the 2009 postseason.
Real Salt Lake made sure a repeat didn't happen.
RSL stunned Columbus and went on to win its first title after barely sneaking into the playoffs, and the Crew figure to have revenge on their minds Saturday night as the league's last two champions square off.
Columbus (1-0-1) has won the Supporters' Shield in the past two regular seasons, and claimed the franchise's first championship in 2008.
Its dream of winning back-to-back titles was snuffed out early. RSL (1-2-1) won the first match of the two-leg conference semifinals 1-0 in Salt Lake City, then overcame a 2-0 deficit at Crew Stadium to win the second leg 3-2.
Columbus coach Robert Warzycha was bitterly disappointed in his team's failure to get through the first round.
"This was a game that we also dominated, but, you know, somehow we gave them some goals," Warzycha said. "Sometimes the better team doesn't win."
Salt Lake went on to win the MLS Cup despite finishing with the fewest points of any playoff team, but its early defense of the title is off to a slow start. RSL won its first match 3-0 over San Jose on March 27, but is 0-2-1 since.
Salt Lake came up short in a rematch of last season's MLS Cup last Saturday at Los Angeles. Kyle Beckerman scored his first goal of the season for RSL, but Edson Buddle scored twice - his league-leading sixth and seventh goals - to lift the Galaxy to a 2-1 win.
"It is early in the season," Beckerman said. "We definitely would have liked to come away with a point or a win, but Edson Buddle is on fire right now. He is something else."
Columbus hasn't played a league match in two weeks, but aside from getting back at Salt Lake, it would like to avenge the ending of its latest game.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto's second goal of the season gave the Crew a 2-1 lead at FC Dallas in the 82nd minute on April 10, but Eric Avila's stoppage-time tally tied the score at 2-all and Columbus had to settle for one point instead of three.
"At the end of the year, hopefully, we've positioned ourselves where we can look back and say to ourselves it was good we got that point on the road," midfielder Brian Carroll said. "But at the same time, we need to learn that we're good enough team to put teams away."
The Crew will be without Danny O'Rourke after the midfielder received a late red card against Dallas - Gino Padula will likely replace him - while forward Steven Lenhart might be limited due to a quad contusion.
RSL, meanwhile, is expected to get one of its leaders back in Javier Morales (groin), but a similar injury may sideline forward Robbie Findley - who scored twice against Columbus in the playoffs.
Salt Lake is 1-4-0 all-time at Crew Stadium in the regular season.
