Player Ratings: Real Salt Lake 0-1 Colorado Rapids

Nick Rimando - 7.5 - Rimando kept RSL breathing after the defense let him down initially. Is there not a game that goes by anymore in which Rimando doesn't make at least one amazing save? Player of the game.
Abdoulie Mansally - 4.5 Mansally has got to do better on the defensive end. He typically does well controlling the ball but I have watched that goal by Atiba Harris multiple times now and it seems pretty clear to me that Mansally should have had him covered. Nobody should be that open in the box. It really just looked like RSL gave the goal away since the ball was in the box for that long to begin with. That lapse set the game in motion.

Nat Borchers - 6.5 - Nat played a solid match and I am now even more convinced that he is the leader of the back four.

Chris Schuler - 6 - Schuler has looked good ever since that one game in which he tried to give the game away to Colorado a few times. He is the interception leader of MLS, and that's pretty impressive.

Tony Beltran - 6.0 - I have seen better service from Beltran various times in the past. His passing seemd a little wayward. I expect more from the US men's team international.

Kyle Beckerman - 6 - Kyle did well to earn the penalty kick and I happen to think that he did not have to embellish it very much. It was a clear foul in the box in my opinion. He had another very accurate passing percentage. Another night and his performance could have led to more.

Ned Grabavoy - 6 - Normally this year Grabavoy has come in and provided energy and veteran awareness. This game he seemed just as off as the next guy.

Sebastian Velasquez - 7 - This is where I will criticize Kreis for the first time, maybe ever. Velasquez seemed to me to be performing much better than Luis Gil so I am unclear on why he was subbed out rather than Luis. Sebastian was one of the few bright spots as far as bringing some positive energy to the game goes. I would not trade Kreis for any other coach in MLS, but there is a first for everything and I think he made the wrong decision in his substitution this game.

Luis Gil - 4 - If I'm not mistaken, this is the lowest score I have awarded this season thus far. Here's the problem. Luis Gil had one of the best if not the best performances of his career last week against Seattle. Then he comes out against Colorado and looked like he had little to no impact on the game. You cannot afford that sort of inconsistency from a regular starter in the midfield. If Gil is to become a perennial all star, he has to be consistently playing well. I am ont sure if it is a home game road game situation in which he is more comfortable at Rio Tinto or what, but this cannot keep happening.

Devon Sandoval - 5.5 - My first question about Sandoval was answered after this game. He did not have anywhere near the stellar performance that he had against Seattle. So before we go lifting Sandoval up in the air and praising him as the future Lenhart or Ching or whatever other easily recognizable MLS forward that has gone before him, much like the other youngsters, he needs to show consistency. I will cut him a bit more slack than Gil since this was only his second ever start.

Alvaro Saborio - 6 It - is this simple: Saborio had some great chances and did not put them away. I am fully confident that he will bounce back and continue to lead the team in scoring this year. He has shown what he can do for three years now. One night does not define this guy.

Substitutes

Olmes Garcia - 5.5 - Not a bad performance from Garcia, but it seemed to me that Morales layed the ball on a platter for him and he did not take a shot quick enough. His athleticism is obvious though. Give him time.

Javier Morales - 6 - Javier needs a couple more games to be fully in form. I really do see him playing more hungry this year than last year. Anybody else notice that?

Khari Stephenson - 5.5 - He did well in the seven or eight minutes that he was on, but I cannot really give him a lower or higher score without more time or a clear contribution.