Real Salt Lake takes home Desert Diamond Cup with 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids

In a tense, tightly contested affair, a ten-man Real Salt Lake beat Colorado Rapids 2-1 to win the Desert Diamond Cup

After taking a first-half lead then conceding an equalizer, Real Salt Lake regained the lead in the 52nd minute, immediately following a red card to Alvaro Saborio for some apparent role in a scuffle in the setup to the set piece. Javier Morales finished expertly, nestling the ball in the top right corner.

Colorado equalized in the 28th minute through a Dillon Serna goal, picking off the ball from a Nick Rimando rebound.

Olmes Garcia opened the scoring with a straightforward finish following some excellent combination play from Tony Beltran, then Luis Gil.

After an early caution, Alvaro Saborio was slightly lucky to stay in the first half after colliding — probably incidentally — with Rapids keeper Clint Irwin during an RSL attack. That luck clearly did not keep.  His first caution was for off-the-ball contact at the touch line.

RSL coach Jeff Cassar's side started with a first-choice lineup, save Demar Phillips, who was withheld as a precaution after a hamstring issue in the second round win over FC Tucson.