Game Recaps: Real Salt Lake 1:0 Colorado Rapids

The Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake met for the first time in 2016 and it was a match that was decided on some great defending by RSL and an absolute howler by Zac MacMath that gifted RSL the win.  The 1-0 loss to RSL bring the Rapids to 2-2-1 (7 points) on the year.

The first half was largely an uninspiring 45 minutes of football as both teams made it difficult for any offense to get going.  RSL had 2 shots on goal but neither seemed to be much of a threat for MacMath, but the best chances came from the Rapids.  Shkelzen Gashi had a tremendous shot on goal that was saved off the line by Aaron Maund.  It truly was a shot destined for the back corner, but somehow Maund got a head on it.  The second great Rapids chance came moments later as Luis Solignac had a one on one that he smacked right at the on rushing Nick Rimando.   After a minute of stoppage time the first half whistle blew with the score tied at 0.

I have no words for the second half.  Except that was the worst howler I have seen in a very, very long time.

MacMath a shoe in for Sportcenter’s Not Top Ten tonight. #rapids96

— Stout St Bulldogs (@BulldogSG) April 10, 2016

Match Moments

61st Min:  BOOKING--Yellow Card to Colorado Rapids defender Bobby Burling (Unsporting Behavior)

72nd Min:  GOAL--Joao Plata scores for Real Salt Lake

83rd Min:  BOOKING--Yellow Card to Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan

90th (+2):  BOOKING--Yellow Card to Colorado Rapids defender Eric Miller

The Rapids Starting XI:

Zac MacMath, Marc Burch, Axel Sjoberg, Bobby Burling, Eric Miller, Sam Cronin, Micheal Azira, Shkelzen Gashi, Dillon Powers (79', Dominique Badji), Marco Pappa, Luis Solignac

The RSL Starting XI:

Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund, Chris Wingert (73', Demar Phillips), Sunny (84', John Stertzer), Luke Mulholland (64', Javier Morales), Kyle Beckerman, Juan Martinez, Yura Movsisyan, Joao Plata