Real Salt Lake 6 at Colorado Rapids 0
August 25, 2018; Commerce City, Colorado; Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Real Salt Lake (12-10-5, 41 points); Colorado Rapids (6-14-6, 24 points)
Man of the Match: It’s hard to pick just one. Aaron Herrera had a goal-line clearance on Colorado’s only shot on goal and made the tackle that started RSL’s run for the second goal. Corey Baird came off the bench to pick up a goal and two assists. Albert Rusnák was a nuisance to the Colorado defense throughout the night. But Jefferson Savarino was a beast. He put three of his five shots on goal, created three more chances and finished with two goals and an assist. It continues an upward trend for Savarino, who since July 4 has notched three goals and six assists with 18 chances created while putting 10 of his 20 shots on goal in those nine matches.
Telling Stat: Granted it came when Colorado was reduced to nine men by halftime because of two first-half red cards, but RSL outshot the Rapids 21-4 and put 13 shots on goal to just one – which was cleared off the line by Herrera – for Colorado. In the three matches between the two clubs, RSL outshot the Rapids 63-29, held the advantage in shots on goal 30-7 and outscored the Rocky Mountain Cup rivals 11-2.
What You Missed: After the match, the Special Olympics Unified teams from the two clubs squared off at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. They each got recognized at halftime and put on quite a show after the match, with Colorado winning 3-1. RSL’s Unified team will face the LA Galaxy’s Unified team following the match with the Galaxy next week at Rio Tinto Stadium.
So What: What road woes? RSL is now 2-1-1 with two shutouts in the last four road matches, including wins in the last two. With the playoff race in the West heating up and four of the final seven matches at home, things are shaping up for Salt Lake at both ends of the field. The LA Galaxy will be a big test at Rio Tinto Stadium next week and with the Galaxy drawing at home against LAFC on Wednesday, it’s an opportunity for RSL to put some distance between itself and the other contenders in the Western Conference.
