REAL SALT LAKE DOWNS COLORADO RAPIDS 2-0 IN MLS RESERVE LEAGUE FINALE
MF Nelson González Notches Assists on Both RSL Goals in Shutout Win
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Saturday, October 15, 2011) – The Real Salt Lake Reserves ousted the Colorado Rapids Reserves in a 2-0 shutout victory on Saturday morning at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in both teams’ final match of the 2011 MLS Reserve League season.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Arturo Alvarez was the first to notch one for the visitors, as he received a pass from MF Nelson González on the right flank, carried the ball down the sideline and beat Rapids goalkeeper Ian Joyce with a near-post shot in the 33’. The Rapids responded throughout the half with crafty combinations from forwards Quincy Amarikwa and Andre Akpan, but were unable to capitalize.
González was the once more the playmaker when he completed a give-and-go in the 43’ to assist FW Jean Alexandre, who placed the ball just inside the far right post with a clever outside-of-the-foot flick to put RSL up 2-0. DF Donny Toia would make sure that cushion stood heading into the break, as his sliding tackle on Akpan to thwart a breakaway on RSL netminder Tim Melia would mark the final play of the opening 45 minutes.
The Claret-and-Cobalt had a golden opportunity to tack on another goal midway through the second half when FW Chris Agorsor received a poor back pass 40 yards out and charged in on the Rapids’ area, but his shot from 20 yards out rang the crossbar and away from danger. After the half continued scoreless after 45 minutes, the Rapids gave it one last shot in stoppage time when defender Eddie Ababio lofted a ball from the right touchline towards an on-coming Davy Armstrong, whose header went just outside the crossbar and ultimately gave Salt Lake the shutout.
With the win, the Real Salt Lake Reserves snapped a three-game winning streak for the Rapids and ended a four-game losing skid of their own to finish the season with a 3-7-0 record (9 points) in the Central/Mountain Division standings. The Rapids (3-6-1) closed out their return to Reserve League play just one spot ahead of RSL in the standings with 10 points.
Colorado Rapids Reserves 0 : 2 Real Salt Lake Reserves
Saturday, October 15, 2011 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Field 20
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Arturo Alvarez (Nelson González) 33
RSL – Jean Alexandre (Nelson González) 43
Misconduct Summary:
COL – Joseph Nane (Delaying Restart) 44
COL – Andre Akpan (Unsporting behavior) 52
RSL – Nico Muñiz (Unsporting behavior) 56
Colorado Rapids Reserves – Ian Joyce; Danny Earls, Scott Palguta, Mike Holody, Miguel Comminges (Josh Janniere, 46); Davy Armstrong, Joseph Nane (Steven Emory, 60), Ross LaBauex (Dillon Serna, 60), Eddie Ababio; Andre Akpan, Quincy Amarikwa
Substitutes Not Used: Steward Ceus, Ricardo Perez, Brad Stisser
Real Salt Lake Reserves – Tim Melia (Kyle Reynish, 72); Donny Toia, Blake Wagner, Rauwshan McKenzie, Chris Schuler; Nico Muñiz (Cody Arnoux, 72), Nelson González (Chris Agorsor, 46), Arturo Alvarez, Collen Warner (Paulo Mendes 65); Jean Alexandre, Paulo Jr. (Pedro Mendes, 72)
Substitutes Not Used: None
* = Denotes Colorado Rapids Academy or RSL-AZ Academy players
= Denotes trial players
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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