SANDY, Utah (Saturday, July 21, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (9-9-3, 30 points) took an early lead and looked ready to coast to the finish to hoist the Rocky Mountain Cup on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids. But a 71-minute weather delay shifted momentum and the Rapids came back from a two-goal deficit to force RSL to settle for a 2-2 draw in front of 19,207 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
MF Damir Kreilach and FW Joao Plata each scored in the first 17 minutes of the match, but a 33rd minute penalty gave life to Colorado before an 88th minute equalizer. The draw keeps RSL’s home unbeaten streak intact, now at 8-0-2 in the last 10 matches at Rio Tinto Stadium.
In the first half, RSL was the aggressor from the opening whistle, taking control of the match in the 11th minute when Kreilach netted his fourth goal of the season. Plata took a pass from DF Aaron Herrera on the left side and sent the ball into the box for Kreilach for a diving header that found the open net for the 1-0 lead. Plata then doubled the lead in the 17th minute with his sixth goal of the year. MF Albert Rusnák led FW Jefferson Savarino up the right side of the box. Savarino then played it to the middle where Plata came with a late run and hit a first-time shot into the net for the 2-0 lead.
In the 24th minute, the game went into a weather delay with lightning striking during a thunderstorm that stopped action for 71 minutes.
Upon the restart, Colorado adjusted tactics and put RSL under pressure, eventually scoring when referee Baldomero Toledo went to video review to award the Rapids a penalty in the 33rd minute. Jack McBean converted and the match went into halftime with RSL holding a 2-1 lead.
The second half saw a balanced match, with teams trading shots throughout the final 45 minutes. Ultimately, Colorado netted the equalizer in the 88th minute when Edgar Castillo dribbled into the box and fired a shot from the left side. GK Nick Rimando made the initial save, but Dillon Serna thumped in the rebound to push the game to its final 2-2 tally.
Real Salt Lake remains ahead in the race for the Rocky Mountain Cup, now with four points through two matches. The deciding match will be played August 25 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
UP NEXT: RSL goes back on the road to face the San Jose Earthquakes on July 28 from Avaya Stadium. In the first meeting between the Western Conference foes, RSL settled for a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 23.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Joao Plata, Aaron Herrera) 11th minute – Joao Plata curled a ball in from the left side, finding Damir Kreilach for a diving header that went inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
RSL: Joao Plata (Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák) 17th minute – Albert Rusnák played Jefferson Savarino to the endline up the right side of the box. Savarino then dropped a pass to Joao Plata as a late-runner in the box for a first-time shot for his sixth goal of the season to put RSL up 2-0.
COL: Jack McBean (PK) 33rd minute – After video review was utilized by referee Baldomero Toledo, Colorado was awarded a penalty. Jack McBean hammered in the penalty kick for his second goal of the season to make it 2-1.
COL: Dillon Serna 88th minute – Edgar Castillo made a run with the ball into the box and took a shot from the left side. Nick Rimando made the initial save, but the ball spilled to Dillon Serna, who knocked in the rebound for his first goal of the season to even the score at 2-2.
NOTES:
- Head Coach Mike Petke served the first match of a two-match suspension on Saturday.
- DF Marcelo Silva was out of action serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
- DF Aaron Herrera made his first MLS start on Saturday at left back.
- The match was delayed by severe weather in the 24th minute. The delay lasted 71 minutes before restarting.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
Date: July 21, 2018
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 19,207
Weather: Cloudy and 89
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 0 2
Colorado Rapids 1 1 2
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Joao Plata, Aaron Herrera) 11’
RSL: Joao Plata (Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák) 17’
COL: Jack McBean (PK) 33’
COL: Dillon Serna 88’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler, Justen Glad (Taylor Peay 92+’), Aaron Herrera; Kyle Beckerman, Damir Kreilach; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata (Sebastian Saucedo 70’); Corey Baird (Sunny 85’).
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Danilo Acosta, Pablo Ruiz, Luis Silva.
Colorado Rapids (3-4-2-1): Tim Howard; Kortne Ford (Dillon Serna 85’), Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith; Johan Blomberg, Jack Price (Bismark Boateng 70’), Danny Wilson, Edgar Castillo; Jack McBean, Sam Nicholson; Yannick Boli (Enzo Martinez 24’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Deklan Wynne, Marlon Hairston.
Stats Summary: RSL / COL
Shots: 13 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 1 / 5
Fouls: 15 / 15
Offside: 0 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
COL: Kortne Ford (Caution) 9’
COL: Jack McBean (Caution) 14’
RSL: Corey Baird (Caution) 59’
RSL: Justen Glad (Caution) 73’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Felisha Mariscal, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Joseph Dickerson
Video Assistant Referee: Younes Marrakchi
