Real Salt Lake hosted and defeated the Colorado Rapids on Friday, Sept. 19, at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL beat the Rapids 5-1.
Colorado was the first to put a point on the board after a 20-minute stalemate between the two teams. Jose Mari scored in the 21st minute and would be the only time the Rapids celebrated during the match.
RSL began its assault on the Rapids in the 32nd minute with a beautiful assist from Ned Grabavoy to Joao Plata for the first score.
Javier Morales quickly followed up with another RSL goal in the 33rd minute to give the team the lead.
Shortly after, Colorado’s Shane O’Neill received a yellow card was given for shoving Plata. This resulted in a corner kick that led to RSL’s third goal by Chris Schuler in the 37th minute of play.
The first half ended with another goal for Salt Lake when Joe Nasco, Colorado’s goal keeper, tapped the ball into his own net in the 45th minute. Salt Lake entered halftime up 4-1.
RSL never relinquished the first half’s momentum.
The only score in the second half came after a corner kick by Javier Morales. Nasco dropped the ball and left the goal open for an easy score by Carlos Salcedo. This last goal would be the final nail in the coffin for the Rapids.
“Everyone contributed tonight,” RSL Coach Jeff Cassar said following the game. “Overall a very good performance; I’m very pleased with outset.”
RSL is currently ranked third in the MLS Western Conference and is in a good position for the playoffs that start next month.
RSL’s next match is against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. in Vancouver.
