Why is Real Salt Lake MLS Eastern Conference Champs if they are closer to the west coast?

The Kansas City Wizards, FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo are some teams that are East of Salt Lake but are considered Western Conference Teams in the MLS. Why did Real Salt Lake play against the Chicago Fire for the Eastern Cup Final?Why is Real Salt Lake MLS Eastern Conference Champs if they are closer to the west coast?
Playoff rules of the MLS.



"WHO QUALIFIES: Eight teams qualify for the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 15 teams will have played 30 games.



# The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 %26amp; 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets.



# The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive "wildcard" berths.



鈥?The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first.

鈥?If more than four teams qualify from one conference, the team finishing lower than fourth in its conference will shift over to the other conference bracket.

鈥?A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket. "



In this case the Western conference got 3 of the 4 wild card berths so the playoff team with the fewest points from the west (Real Salt Lake) filled the 4th spot for the Eastern Conference Playoffs and ended up beating the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire to reach the finals.