Post-Game: FSL

By: Michael Sandoval    

In the second leg of this year’s Rocky Mountain Cup the Colorado Rapids were triumphant, beating Salt Lake 1-0 for their fifth consecutive win at home (they are a perfect 5-0 at Dicks Sporting Goods Park this year).   It was a game Colorado dominated throughout and thoroughly deserved the win.  Our attacking third created chance after chance while Zac MacMath had his best game of the season on the other end, earning his fourth clean sheet of the year. 

Having lost at Rio Tinto earlier in the season the Rapids knew they had to win for there to be any chance of them defending the Rocky Mountain Cup.  It’s hard to say if that was the cause for Colorado’s quick start, but whatever the reason the Rapid’s never looked as if they were going to lose the game.  Their first chance came in the 9^th minute of play when Kevin Doyle was played a long ball which he controlled nicely.  The Irishman would carry the ball all the way into the eighteen and cut inside before letting go a shot which traveled much too high to worry Nick Rimando.  Doyle had Jermaine Jones  inside the penalty area and in hindsight should have found him for what looked like an easy tap in.  It would be a mistake Doyle would not make twice. 

Before Doyle could make amends Juan Manuel Martinez would create what was arguably FSL’s best chance of the game.  Originally starting on the wing the Salt Lake winger maneuvered towards the middle of the field and tested MacMath with curler from 20 yards out.  The young goalkeeper was equal the effort, getting both hands to the ball and pushing it out of harm’s way. 

Following this missed opportunity the Rapids shut Salt Lake down and created several more chances before the end of the first half.  The best of which came in the 37^th minute when Marc Burch would find Doyle with a beauty of a cross.  Doyle got a head on it but failed to keep the effort on target, sending the ball harmlessly to Rimando’s left, leaving the game scoreless going into the half.

It wouldn’t remain scoreless for long.  Doyle, eager to put his two missed opportunities behind him, would make another run into the eighteen in the 47^th minute and instead of trying to beat Rimando himself, found  an open Jones who one touched the ball past the diving goalkeeper.  The attacking four (Doyle, Jones, Shkelzen Gashi, and Luis Solignac) created amble chances throughout the night but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net.  The game itself was looking far too much like the first meeting between the two teams so Jones’ goal was a huge relief for players and fans. 

Gashi would almost double the lead two minutes later after Salt Lake failed to clear a ball out of their penalty area.  The Albanian international struck the loose ball hard and low to the far post but was denied by a defenders out stretched foot.  On the ensuing corner Bobby Burling got a shot off from close range but had his effort saved on the line by Rimando.  It was all Colorado until the 58^th minute when Joao Plata came on and seemed to give FSL a spark offensively.  Thankfully MacMath was ready to make amends for his gaf in the last meeting between the two mid-west rivals, becoming a wall Salt Lake could not get passed. 

In the 61^st minute Kyle Beckerman took a blast from 25 yards out.  MacMath was quick on his feet and managed to dive to his top corner and push the ball out for a corner.  After stopping a Plata free kick with breathtaking ease he came up big against Beckerman again in the 85^th minute.  The former Rapids player had a clear shot from the top of the eighteen but saw his effort kicked away by MacMath. 

To cap out of the clean sheet, and earn all three points against a bitter rival, MacMath would make one more stop against a streaking Devon Sandoval (no relation).  The thief who stole my sir name never managed to get a clean touch on the ball once entering the eighteen and MacMath was quick off his line to ensure he never did. 

Going into the game Colorado and Salt Lake sat first and second in the MLS.  With the win Colorado now sit alone atop the MLS standings, a solid three points ahead of Salt Lake.  The win also extends their unbeaten streak to five games. 

Still perfect at home, Colorado looks like the real deal.  I wonder if anyone will put us as number 1 in their power rankings this week (not that we care about that stuff…).  Rapids are back Wednesday with a game against a struggling Sporting Kansas City team.  Kickoff is set for 7pm.

Colorado Rapids: Zac MacMath, Mekeil Williams, Bobby Burling, Axel Sjoberg, Marc Burch, Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Shkëlzen Gashi (Dillon Serna 89’), Jermaine Jones, Luis Solignac (Dominique Badji 77’), Kevin Doyle.

Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Jared Watts, Marlon Hairston, Dillon Powers, Conor Doyle.

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Demar Phillips, Justen Glad, Jámison Olave (Devon Sandoval), Tony Beltran, Kyle Beckerman, Sunny (Luke Mulholland 58’), Javier Morales, Jordan Allen (Joao Plata 58’), Juan Manuel Martinez, Yura Movsisyan.

Subs not used: Jeff Attinella, Chris Wingert, John Stertzer, Olmes Garcia.