Substitute Javier Morales scored on a free kick in the second half Tuesday as Real Salt Lake drew 1-1 with Toronto FC to end the Canadian side's CONCACAF Champions League hopes.
Morales, in his first action since Sept. 9, curled a free kick over the Toronto FC wall and past backup goalkeeper Jon Conway from 20 yards out in the 68th minute to cancel out Jacob Peterson's first-half strike. Julian de Guzman got a head on Morales' shot, but could only deflect it into the roof of the Reds' net.
Toronto threw everyone forward late on in search of a winner but were met with a chorus of boos at the final whistle.
Needing a win to stay in the competition, Peterson gave Toronto FC hope in the 19th minute with Conway the unlikely provider. The 'keeper collected a loose ball and heaved an outlet pass to the halfway line to the streaking Peterson, who moved in quickly on the counter attack. With one defender to beat, he fired a low shot to the right Real 'keeper Nick Rimando.
With the draw, Real clinched a spot in the next round, while Mexico's Cruz Azul also advanced thanks to a 2-0 win over Panama's Arabe Unido.
That leaves Toronto FC, which had its Major League Soccer playoff hopes all but dashed with Saturday's 3-2 home loss to San Jose, on the outside looking in. Group A action concludes Oct. 19 with Toronto FC hosting Arabe Unido, while Cruz Azul visits Real.
