COMMERCE CITY, CO. (May 7, 2016) – The little engine that can did it again. The Colorado Rapids are unbeaten in five, 4-0-1 on that stint. Now, they’re all level in the Rocky Mountain Cup. The Rapids defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Good Park on Saturday night.
Rapids Beat RSL 1-0 In Rocky Mountain Cup Match
The Rapids lineup was the same expect for one change from last game. Marc Burch stepped in for Marlon Hairston at left back. Mekeil Williams moved over right back. Luis Solignac again started left midfield with Kevin Doyle at center forward.
RSL had to do some lineup shifting around again with Joao Plata not starting. Jamison Olave started at center back for Aaron Maund. Jordan Allen again stepped in at left wing for Plata.
The Rapids came out asking questions with lots of energy. They out-possessed their Rocky Mountain Cup opponent much of the first half. In the 9th minute, a turn over in the defensive third led to a Sam Cronin long ball. The captain was able to find a streaking Doyle who ran in on goal and fired a shot over the bar.
RSL took 20 minutes to settle in, but then found their footing. The visitors concentrated their attack down their left flank through Juan Manuel “Burrito” Martinez and Demar Philips. Burrito got a bit of space in the 19th minute and fired a curling shot towards the far corner, but goalkeeper Zac MacMath deflected it outside the box.
The Rapids responded in the 27th minute. Jermaine Jones found Doyle on the edge of the box. Doyle was able to coral the ball at the touch line and fired a cross across goal. The ball took a touch of Olave. Solignac took a shot on the rebound but it was deflected out. Michael Azira was able to get to the ball and fired the ball from outside the box but it was headed out.
The half ended 0-0 with Williams and Sunny Stephen on yellow cards.
Colorado got the second half started with a bang. Ninety minutes after kick off, Solignac got his foot on a turnover in the midfield. He sent a through ball into Doyle. Doyle back-heeled the ball to an oncoming Jones, who sent the ball curling far coast and past goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
The game began to open up with the Rapids in the lead. RSL dominated possession in the second half, winning it 54% for the entire game. Colorado stayed compact and looked to create on the counter. Gashi took a corner in the 50th minute that fell to Bobby Burling, but Rimando cleared it off the line and out of the box.
RSL continued to push to find an equalizer. Their chance came in the 85th minute when RSL had good build up that found Kyle Beckerman right in front of goal. MacMath was well positioned and made the save from point blank and it was cleared out.
The match ended 1-0. Colorado host Sporting KC on Wednesday night at 7 pm MT. Real Salt Lake travel to Houston next Saturday. Kick off is set for 6:30 pm MT.
