Somewhat overlooked in the build-up to tonight's Western Conference semifinal second leg between the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake (10 p.m., ESPN2) is the fact that it could very well be Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller's last game as a professional.
Between the injuries to key players and the size of RSL's advantage after the first leg, there's plenty of pregame fodder on which to focus, but the fact that Keller's playing career is on the cusp of ending is perhaps the most significant development in play.
The 41-year-old Keller, who long ago determined that he'd retire after this season, will only have his season -- and career -- extended if Seattle can overturn a 3-0 aggregate deficit.
Keller already had a send-off from the Seattle faithful after the club drew more than 64,000 fans to the regular-season home finale against San Jose. Now he'll hope that the Sounders can do a San Jose impression in trying to replicate the Earthquakes' four-goal comeback against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2003 postseason.
Here are a few more notes from around the league:
The New England Revolution were granted permission by the Houston Dynamo to speak with assistant coach Steve Ralston about the club's head coach opening, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Ralston, a former Revolution captain, is in his first season as an assistant coach after retiring as a player last year. He is the first candidate to be publicly acknowledged by the Revolution as an interview subject for the job.
IMPACT SIGN UBIPARIPOVIC
The Montreal Impact now have four players on their MLS roster after signing former New York Red Bulls midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic.
Ubiparipovic was a part of the club's NASL team and joins Colombian defender Nelson Rivas, and fellow holdovers Hassoun Camara and Evan Bush as players on the current MLS roster. He accounted for three goals and four assists after joining the club midseason following his release from New York.
BURCH UNDERGOES SURGERY
Oft-injured D.C. United left back Marc Burch underwent another foot surgery, this one to repair an arthritic big toe in his right foot.
According to a team statement, the surgery was a success and he is expected to recover in time for the start of the 2012 preseason.
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Do you think tonight will be Keller's last as a player? Think Ralston would be a good fit for the Revs' opening? Do you see Ubiparipovic finding success in MLS with Montreal?
Share your thoughts below.
