RSL gets another result as they near an MLS record. In front of a sold out crowd, the atmosphere was all you could ask for in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup.
Being short-handed with three players out on international duty didn’t stop Real Salt Lake from putting on a great show for the first 20 minutes of play that culminated in the Javier Morales pass to Joao Plata who put the ball just inside the right post to start off a disappointing night for Clint Irwin in goal for Colorado.
Javier Morales continued to play very aggressively and he got another chance to add to his three goals last week when Devon Sandoval was denied the scoring opportunity by Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin in the 51st minute of the second half. Morales gave a short pause and when Irwin committed to the left, he went to the right to added to the RSL lead now 2-0.
Once again Jeff Attinella came up big as he filled in for Nick Rimando in the goal, with a number of amazing saves including a double save in the 73rd minute to deny Colorado the goal. In spite of several defensive breakdowns that allowed Colorado to get a little too close for comfort, Attinella was able to stop almost everything that was thrown at him, until the 83rd minute when Drew Moor took a pass from Dillon Sema and brought the Rapids back within one.
RSL started to look a bit winded in the last third of the match as more errant passes were picked off by a re-energized Rapids club. The late substitutions of Lius Gil, John Stetzer and Sabastian Velzaquez were just enough to carry them over the finish to get the 3 points.
RSL (6-0-5) remains unbeaten in MLS play for the year and with the Seattle Sounders also winning tonight remain in second place in the west. With 20 fouls on the night and 4 yellow cards against Colorado with only 10 fouls and no yellows, there is still plenty for Jeff Cassar to work on with the current lineup.
Up Next:
Real Salt Lake (6-0-5) hosts FC Dallas (5-5-2) at Rio Tinto Stadium. Dallas has been struggling after a great start, their last result was April 19th.