COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Saturday, May 7, 2016) – Real Salt Lake suffered its second loss of the season and first shutout in nine matches in 2016 after a 1-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Jermaine Jones scored the lone goal just after halftime and Salt Lake had some late opportunities thwarted by Colorado goalkeeper Zac MacMath as RSL dropped the first match in a stretch of five straight road matches.
The Claret-and-Cobalt forced MacMath into five saves on the night, getting opportunities throughout the match, but was unable to capitalize.
Things started early for RSL. In the 19th minute, FW Juan Manuel Martinez feigned a pass to DF Demar Phillips streaking into the left corner, then took the ball himself to the middle, cutting around Micheal Azira and pushing a shot toward the far post, forcing MacMath into a lunging save.
After a lengthy stretch hen RSL dominated possession, Colorado put the Salt Lake goal under pressure in the 27th minute. Shkelzen Gashi got into the box up the right side and put the ball back to the middle where it was first deflected away by DF Jamison Olave. Off the deflection, Colorado got one shot, then Azira fired from the edge of the box but both were blocked by RSL defenders.
RSL was outshot 7-4 in the first half, but put two shots on frame to just one for Colorado and the match went into halftime at 0-0.
Colorado came out hot in the second half and Jermaine Jones pounced for a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute. Kevin Doyle got into the box on a ball from Luis Solignac. He took a touch, then dropped it back to Jones trailing the play and the U.S. National Team midfielder ripped a shot inside the far post for his third goal in just four matches this season.
MF Kyle Beckerman nearly equalized in the 61st minute, smashing a shot from 25 yards out, but MacMath sprawled out to tip the ball out of the top right corner for the save.
Beckerman would have another opportunity in the 85th minute as FW Yura Movsisyan laid the ball off to him just inside the box. His off-balanced left-footer fell to MacMath for another save, though, and even after bringing on FW Joao Plata for his first appearance after a two-match absence due to injury RSL could not find the equalizer.
The loss drops RSL to 5-2-2 on the season, three points behind Colorado (6-2-2) for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Salt Lake continues its stretch of five straight road matches next week against the Houston Dynamo. Saturday’s match at BBVA Compass Stadium is a rematch of RSL’s 2-1 win over the Dynamo on April 30.
COLORADO RAPIDS 1-0 REAL SALT LAKE
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Colorado Rapids 0 1 1
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
COL: Jermaine Jones (Kevin Doyle, Luis Solignac) 47’
Misconduct Summary:
COL: Mekeil Williams (Caution; Persistent Infringement) 15’
RSL: Sunday Stephen (Caution; Foul) 29’
COL: Jermaine Jones (Caution; Foul) 53’
RSL: Tony Beltran (Caution; Foul) 79’
COL: Shkelzen Gashi (Caution; Time Wasting) 81’
COL: Zac MacMath (Caution; Time Wasting) 91+’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Jamison Olave (Devon Sandoval 85’), Demar Phillips; Kyle Beckerman, Sunday Stephen (Luke Mulholland 58’); Juan Manuel Martinez, Javier Morales, Jordan Allen (Joao Plata 58’); Yura Movsisyan.
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Olmes Garcia, John Stertzer, Chris Wingert.
Colorado Rapids (4-3-3): Zac MacMath; Mekeil Williams, Axel Sjoberg, Bobby Burling, Marc Burch; Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones; Luis Solignac (Dominique Badji 77’), Kevin Doyle, Shkelzen Gashi (Dillon Serna 89’).
Substitutes not used: Chris Froschauer, Conor Doyle, Marlon Hairston, Dillon Powers, Jared Watts.
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Apolinar Mariscal
Fourth Official: Daniel Radford
Attendance: 14,638
Weather: Cloudy and 54
