The Colorado Rapids Soccer Club dropped a 4-1 contest at the hands of Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. With the win, RSL keeps the Rocky Mountain Cup for the second consecutive year.
Winger Joao Plata opened up the scoresheet with five minutes left in the first half. The Ecuadorian winger did enough to create some space between himself and Eric Miller at the top of the box before beating Tim Howard at the near post.
Luis Silva would double the home side’s lead from the spot after Mekeil Williams was called for a foul on Jefferson Savarino inside the box. Seven minutes later, the Rapids’ hopes would increase after Danilo Acosta saw straight red for a reckless tackle on Marlon Hairston.
Midfielder Joshua Gatt would tally his first MLS goal with a low and powerful header at the near post. Gatt’s goal was initially called off due to an apparent offside, but Video Review showed that Gatt was in fact in an onside position at the time of Micheal Azira’s cross.
Looking for the equalizer, the Rapids pushed numbers forward but were also reduced to 10 men after Alan Gordon received a second yellow card for a foul on Justen Glad.
Silva would tally his second of the night after a brilliant run sealed things for the home side in stoppage time. Moments later, Brooks Lennon would score his second of the season, and second against the Rapids, keeping the Rocky Mountain Cup in Utah.
The Rapids (6-15-4; 22 points) return to league play next Saturday, September 2 when they take on LA Galaxy at StubHub Center. Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. MT (Altitude).
BOX SCORE
Real Salt Lake 4-1 Colorado Rapids
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, UT
Saturday, August 26, 2017
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL: Joao Plata (Albert Rusnák) 41’
RSL: Luis Silva (PK) 50’
COL: Joshua Gatt (Micheal Azira) 82’
RSL: Luis Silva (Brooks Lennon) 90’+2’
RSL: Brooks Lennon (Sebastian Saucedo, Luke Mulholland) 90’+6’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 32’
RSL: Luis Silva (caution) 50’
RSL: Danilo Acosta (ejection) 57’
COL: Alan Gordon (caution) 73’
COL: Alan Gordon (second caution; ejection) 77’
COL: Kevin Doyle (caution) 90’+4’
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, David Horst, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta; Jefferson Savarino (Chris Wingert 63’), Sunny, Luke Mulholland, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata (Brooks Lennon 73’); Luis Silva (Sebastian Saucedo 90’+5’).
Subs not used: Lalo Fernandez, Justin Schmidt, Nick Besler, Yura Movsisyan.
Colorado Rapids: Tim Howard; Marlon Hairston, Eric Miller, Axel Sjöberg, Mekeil Williams; Nana Boateng (Micheal Azira HT), Luis Gil (Alan Gordon 68’), Mohammed Saeid (Joshua Gatt 62’); Shkëlzen Gashi, Dominique Badji, Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: John Berner, Jared Watts, Mike da Fonte, Dillon Serna .
ATTENDANCE: 18,855
TEAM RECORDS:
Real Salt Lake: 10-13-5 (35 points)
Colorado Rapids: 6-15-4 (22 points)
