Real Salt Lake 2 vs Colorado Rapids 2
July 21, 2018; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (9-9-3, 30 points); Colorado Rapids (4-11-5, 17 points)
Man of the Match: In the first 24 minutes of the match, there was nobody more impactful than Joao Plata. He assisted on RSL’s first goal, then scored on the second. He would finish the match with three shots, two shots on goal and two chances created. He now has three goals and an assist in the last two matches, giving him six goals and three assists in 13 matches this season.
Telling Stat: In the first 17 minutes of the match, RSL had four shots, two goals and roughly 67% of the possession. The defense was in sync, too, keeping Colorado without a shot during that stretch. After the weather delay in the 24th minute, Colorado outshot RSL 11-8, eventually equalizing in the 88th minute.
What You Missed: As mentioned, a weather delay in the 24th minute halted action – and RSL’s momentum. For 71 minutes, the teams waited in the locker rooms for a lightning storm to clear while fans in the concourse kept the mood festive. Most of the 19,207 in attendance appeared to stay for the remainder of the match, too, as RSL extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 matches, though not with the win the fans hoped for.
So What: RSL had an opportunity to lift the Rocky Mountain Cup and further cement itself among the Western Conference playoff contenders on Saturday. And while the draw keeps RSL’s home unbeaten string intact, it now makes two draws at home in the last month against teams that are among the West bottom feeders in San Jose and Colorado. Salt Lake will look to redeem some of those points in a road match against San Jose this week, but it also shows some of the league’s parity that RSL can win so convincingly over top teams Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas, only to draw against lesser opponents like San Jose and Colorado.
