Player Ratings - Colorado Rapids At Real Salt Lake

The first match of the 2014 Rocky Mountain Cup was a hard fought affair at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.  Real Salt Lake jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Colorado Rapids scored to make the final ten minutes tense in Sandy, but the Burgundy Boys eventually dropped a 2-1 decision.  The Rapids goal was scored by Drew Moor which continued the trend of offensive ineptitude that the Rapids have demonstrated this season and their 3-1-1 start is a distant memory.  They are now 1-3-2 in their last 6 matches, but was there may be reason for optimism as they have a 3 game home stand and then a game against fading FC Dallas before the World Cup break.

Here is how I saw the match:

Clint Irwin 6.5

Not much he could have done on either goal and made two saves on the night.  Was correct to complain about a soft penalty for RSL, but those things even out over the course of the year.

Chris Klute 6.5

Klute made several good runs up the pitch, but lost his man on the first RSL goal.  And for a team that struggles scoring, Klute can not afford to make mistakes like that (fair or not)

Marvell Wynne 6

Wynne was not as active as he has been, but did aid in limiting RSL to three shots on goal (not counting the PK) and only six total offensive chances for RSL.

Drew Moor  7.5

A quality finish by Moor off a set piece gave the Rapids hope, and he absolutely got screwed on the RSL PK.

Marc Burch 6.5

Burch was good moving up the field and help to generate chances, and at times it appeared that he and Klute helped to generate more chances then the midfield did.

Dillon Serna 7.5

The Rapids most consistent offensive threat and provided spectacular service on the Rapids goal.  He needs to be in the starting lineup on Saturday against Montreal.

Dillon Powers 6.5

Powers looks like he is still getting back to fitness but I am not sure that he was positioned correctly as (and this is how it looked to me) as a recessed forward.  It should be noted that RSL fouled him five times and he was obviously a focus for them.

Nathan Sturgis 5.5

A largely forgettable performance for Sturgis who was subbed off just after halftime.

Nick LaBrocca 6

LaBrocca put in another blue collar shift with a shot on goal but needs to be better getting the ball forward to the strikers.

Edson Buddle 6

Buddle is still looking for goal 100 and it could not be found at RSL.  He generated a few chances but his finishing let him down.  But like a majority of games this year, he did not get the best service from his midfield.

Deshorn Brown 5.5

The on again-off again play of Brown led him to an off night in Sandy.  Did not have a shot on target and largely was ineffective on the evening.

Substitutions

Kamani Hill 6.5

Hill registered a shot on goal in his 41 minutes of work (which was one more than the man he replaced) and looked threatening at times.  Played on the front foot for his time on the field, but could not find the back of the net.

Marlon Hairston 6.5

Came on for Powers in the second half and registered a shot (off target) on the night. Had decent movement on and off the ball, but like most of the Rapids offensive players, had difficulty in generating enough quality offensive chances.

Danny Mwanga N/A

Late game cameo for Mwanga