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Kansas City, Kan. • Thundering into the unknown, the shot met its destiny as it thundered back off the crossbar, ricocheting onto the frozen field to put an exclamation point on one club's season and a period end-stop on the other.

The 20th penalty-kick attempt in the 2013 MLS Cup final, the longest penalty-kick shootout in MLS postseason history, taken by Real Salt Lake defender and substitute Lovel Palmer, fired away from the goal at Sporting Park, bringing to an end a dramatic Cup final that will be remembered — and much discussed — for years.

But on this bone-chilling Midwestern night, Real Salt Lake's quest for another trophy fell just short as host Sporting Kansas City defeated the Western Conference champions 7-6 in an unprecedented 10-round penalty shootout.

"Unfortunately," Palmer said, "I was the guy trying to save the day, and it didn't go our way."

But the title match didn't go one way. In fact, it went every which way imaginable. A frozen field in the beginning stages of December showcased aggressive play, questionable fouls calls, questionable cautions, injuries and a second-half lead that RSL possessed. The lead came thanks to forward Alvaro Saborio in the 52nd minute, but was eradicated by a 76th-minute header by SKC defender Aurelien Collin.

"The momentum swings and the close plays in that game are like nothing I've ever seen in any game I've played — for both teams," RSL midfielder Ned Grabavoy said.

The ensuing two 15-minute overtime periods came and they went.

Penalties were summoned to decide a champion. And RSL fell behind two early after Saborio floated his penalty-kick attempt and SKC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen swallowed RSL's second take by Grabavoy. But RSL keeper Nick Rimando stuffed Matt Besler, which began a cascading of thrills.

After SKC star Graham Zusi sent his would-be winning attempt high into the night, each side traded goals and misses. When SKC sub Lawrence Olum pushed his attempt wide — the eighth round of the shootout — Sebastian Velasquez's would-be winning penalty was snatched by Nielsen.

Nat Borchers and Chance Myers traded goals, which left SKC center back Aurelien Collin with the club's 10th chance of the night, one he barely bent into the post. Palmer, an injury sub for Chris Wingert was next, but his shot soared off the bar, sending Sporting Park into a frenzy.

RSL players, wrapped in their large jackets, either fell to the frozen pitch or took a straight shot to the sliver of Claret-and-Cobalt to applaud the fans.

"It was there for us," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "We missed out. It was there for the win, and it's just tough to take."

RSL, a club renowned for its prowess in penalties and sporting one of the league's best goalkeepers in Rimando, oddly found itself on the other end of the stick as players kept swapping makes and misses.

"Tonight wasn't our night," Rimando said. "It's tough losing in PKs, especially for a goalkeeper. Personally, I think I can save them — I want to save them."

It was a brutal end to a 12-month campaign that had its peaks and valleys and a side that rediscovered its identity for a postseason stretch run that ended on the frozen field at Sporting Park.

"I just want to make sure my group doesn't walk away forgetting everything that they did this year," RSL coach Jason Kreis said, "because it was a whole hell of a lot." —

RSL 1, Sporting K.C. 1 Kansas City wins 7-6 on penalty kicks

Real Salt Lake 0 1 0 0 — 1

Sporting K.C. 0 1 0 0 — 1

First half » None.

Second half » 1, Real Salt Lake, Saborio 13 (Beckerman), 52nd minute. 2, Sporting Kansas City, Collin 6 (Zusi), 76th.

Extra period—None.

Extra period—None.

Goalies » Real Salt Lake, Nick Rimando Sporting Kansas City, Jimmy Nielsen.

Yellow Cards—Wingert, Real Salt Lake, 24th Collin, Sporting Kansas City, 35th Saborio, Real Salt Lake, 44th Beckerman, Real Salt Lake, 100th Feilhaber, Sporting Kansas City, 103rd.

Referee—Hilario Grajeda. Assistant Referees—Paul Scott. Bill Dittmar. 4th Official—Ismail Elfath.

Attendance » 21,650 (18,500)

———

Lineups

Real Salt Lake—Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert (Lovel Palmer, 72nd), Luis Gil (Sebastian Velasquez, 87th), Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Robbie Findley, Alvaro Saborio.

Sporting Kansas City—Jimmy Nielsen, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic, Chance Myers, Aurelien Collin, Paulo Nagamura, Oriol Rosell (Lawrence Olum, 8th), Benny Feilhaber, Dom Dwyer (Claudio Bieler, 72nd), Graham Zusi, C.J. Sapong.