RSL guts out a win at home, 1-0

Real Salt Lake had an incredibly difficult time breaking down the Colorado defense in the first half. While the effort was absolutely there, the shots on goal were hard to come by. Colorado's defense looks much improved over the past couple of years and a lot more organized.  Burrito was wa was creating and finding space as best he could but was also being smothered every time he touched the ball.  On the other end of the field RSL's defense was overall very solid as well and the recovery help was there when needed. Justen Glad went to battle with Gashi over and over again with Glad holding his own. The highlights of the first half were two saves for Salt Lake, one being a header by Aaron Maund that brought the crowd to its feet and another by Nick Rimando in a one on one situation just before the whistle. The game was even at zero a piece.

The Energy from the first after it over to the second half with RSL really pressuring.  And as to be expected, Nick Rimando came up with another couple of saves that preserved the clean sheet. Javier Morales came on around the 65th and gave RSL a shot in the arm as far as creativity goes. Salt Lake looked absolutely determined to score and kept fighting to break the deadlock. Finally, Joao Plata was able to take advantage of a miscue from Zac MacMath and his defenders and when the ball popped goal side Plata pounced. The intensity level went up parallel to the Rapids' frustration and the play got more chippy as the night went on. After what felt like another hour with the five minutes of stoppage time, RSL held on to win 1-0.