The FIFA Simulation: Real Salt Lake 1:1 Colorado Rapids

The Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake meet for the first of three matches in 2016 tonight at Rio Tinto and as part of our MatchDay coverage here is our FIFA preview!

It was by and large a dry affair in Utah, with the bad guys drawing first blood.  But Dillon Powers equalized early in the second half to see the Rapids split the points.  Overall, RSL had the bulk of the possession but the Rapids defense was resolute.

RSL finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute as a ball found its way past Zac MacMath and into the back of the net.  It looked like that might be the only goal, but Powers hit an absolute belter in the 50th minute to even the game.  From there, both teams tried to win the game, but it was not to be and the match ended 1-1.

The Rapids Starting XI:

Zac MacMath, Marc Burch, Axel Sjoberg, Bobby Burling, Eric MIller, Sam Cronin, Micheal Azira, Shkelzen Gashi, Dillon Powers, Marco Pappa, Luis Solignac

Match Moments

3rd Min: BOOKING:  Yellow Card--Colorado Luis Solignac

11th Min: CHANCE:  Micheal Azira had a terrific look on goal for the Rapids, but absolutely wiffs on the shot.

15th Min: CHANCE:  The Rapids are on the front foot so far in Sandy, Utah but cannot find the back of the net  Shkelzen Gashi hammers it over the bar

23rd Min: CHANCE:  RSL finally decides to play and forces MacMath into a massive save

37th Min: GOAL:  RSL breaks the deadlock and takes the 1-0 lead with a shot from 17 yards out.

50th Min: GOAL:  HOLY COW.  Dillon Powers with an absolute blast from 25 yards out to even it up!!!!

54th Min: CHANCE:  Salt Lake nearly takes the lead!  What a chance for the evil doers from Salt Lake.

57th Min: BOOKING:  Yellow Card--Marco Pappa got screwed on a call and goes into the book.

60th Min: CHANCE:  Luis Solignac has an excellent chance but forces the RSL keeper into a smart save

65th Min: BOOKING:  Axel Sjoberg picks up a yellow card for a tackle from behind.

81st Min: SUBSTITUTION:  Wholesale changes for the Rapids as Dillon Serna enters for Azira, Dominique Badji for Powers and Conor Doyle for Solignac

86th Min: CHANCE:  Badji has a nice look at goal but blasts it wide right

90th Min (+2): CHANCE:  RSL nearly wins it at the death but heads it wide.

The Statistics

The Rapids and RSL get going for "real" tonight at 7:30 PM MDT and the game can be viewed on Altitude Sports with Richard Fleming and Marcelo Balboa on the call.