Colorado Rapids Down Real Salt Lake 2-0

By Randy Davis

Colorado Rapids easily dealt with Real Salt Lake in the opening match contesting the Rocky Mountain Cup.  The 2-0 victory gave the Rapids the advantage in the quest for the hardware between the two rivals and also allowed them to take a 2 point advantage in the standings as they move ahead of Real Salt Lake. 

Colorado made a slightly unexpected move in the lineup inserting Nick LaBrocca in for the ineffective playmaker Mehdi Ballouchy.  That substitution paid off as LaBrocca started the scoring off in this game.  In addition, the Rapids re-inserted goalkeeper Matt Pickens into the lineup as he had recently returned from injury.

First Half

The half started out in Real Salt Lake’s favor as they opened the first ten minutes with the better of the possession, and appeared set for a penalty kick in the 3^rd minute when defender Ugo Ihemelu seemed to make a back pass to ‘keeper Matt Pickens.  The momentum that RSL appeared to be creating went out the window in the 11^th minute as Colorado opened the scoring.  The play started when forward Conor Casey held up the ball out on the left flank and allowed Colin Clark to make a run down the line before passing to Clark who was unmarked.  The left-winger measured his cross with the left foot, and placed a nice ball into the box directly in front of goal.  LaBrocca stepped up into a wide open middle of the box and easily headed the ball past Rimando from eight yards out. 

That was the start of the continuing nightmare on the road for RSL, as everything from that point appeared to go in the favor of the Rapids.  Just four minutes later Colorado appeared to net their second goal as Omar Cummings chipped the ball off of a quick throw in to Casey who headed the ball past Rimando.  Casey was deemed to be offside on the play and the goal was disallowed.

Real Salt Lake pressed forward after that trying to get a quick equalizer and had two opportunities in the next ten minutes.  The first came off of a botched clearance after a free kick that was gathered by RSL midfielder Clint Mathis who had an open shot, but it sailed over the crossbar.  Minutes later forward Yura Movsisyan found himself behind the defense and chased down to the right of the goal just a few yards short of the end line, but was caught between crossing the ball and taking a shot, and he appeared to do something in-between as the effort sailed harmlessly wide of the goal.

The second bit of disaster struck in the 32^nd minute as Clark skinned RSL right back Robbie Russell out near the corner flag and then placed a ball near post to Casey.  However, Casey arrived at the ball at the same time as goalkeeper Nick Rimando, midfielder Kyle Beckerman and defender Jamison Olave.  It appeared that both Beckerman and Olave stepped on Rimando’s left hand. The ball bounded wide of the goal, but Rimando writhed around in pain and had to be replaced do to a deep cut on his hand. To make matters worse, backup Chris Seitz is away for the week on loan to Portland and third-stringer Kyle Reynish had to fill in.

Another bit of disaster struck in the 41^st minute as Olave, known for his raw, athletic, but sometimes wild tackles left his feet and caught Casey in the legs with a two-footed, studs-up challenge.  He was shown straight red for the effort, leaving RSL to deal with the rest of the match with ten men.

Second Half

As the second half opened, RSL tried to deal as best they could with a man down by dropping Mathis into the defense, and forward Robbie Findley into the midfield.  The move was an attempt to keep offensive options on the field while shoring up the defense. 

Colorado on the other hand appeared content to play a possession game and pick their opportunities to attack.  In the process, they were wearing down the Salt Lake defense and the approach seemed to work.  In the 60^th minute, defender Jordan Harvey put a ball into the box which bounded away from his intended target, but was collected by winger Terry Cooke.  Cooke laid the ball off to onrushing defender Kosuke Kimura who blasted a shot to the right of Reynish for his first career goal. 

The goal left RSL out to chase the game and Colorado made sure that they contained their opponent and kept possession of the ball as they managed to kill off the final 30 minutes. The sometimes shaky defense of Colorado did well holding RSL to just 7 shots, none of them on goal.  Conversely, RSL’s defense was shaky, especially in the first half, giving up two goals in the game on 10 shots. 

The loss was a costly one for RSL. They dropped another road match, and have yet to score away from home.  They also may be without Rimando for their upcoming match against LA depending on the severity of his injury and will be without Olave who will serve the red card suspension.  RSL remain at 9 points, with 3 wins, and 3 losses which leaves them currently sitting fourth in the West.

Colorado catapults ahead of RSL for 3^rd in the West with 11 points on 3 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. The Rapids play at New England next Saturday. 

 Randy Davis covers Real Salt Lake for Goal.com

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