Real Salt Lake keep Rocky Mountain Cup as they beat Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto
Colorado Rapids happened to be the second visitors at Rio Tinto in the 2011 Major League Soccer season after http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-Salt-Lake-c40339 in the Rocky Mountain Cup final on April 13th. RSL registered a narrow 1—0 victory to earn the cup bragging rights.
RSL netted the lone goal of the match in the closing stages of the game. Fabian Espindola scored the decider in the third minute of the second half stoppage time as the Royals take the trophy home for the third consecutive time.
Even though the game remained scoreless in the opening 90 minutes, the match was a physical affair with tackles flying in from both the sides. Chris Wingert and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nat-Borchers-c27368 from the home side and Marvell Wynne—Tyrone Marshal duo for the visitors defended resolutely for their respective teams. The Lakers had only two shots on goal while the Rapids fared little better with three shots.
Colorado’s Jamie Smith got an early break and volleyed the ball onto the woodwork. However, Rick Rimando was alert enough to fist the ball away. RSL responded quickly as Borchers tried a headed attempt only to see his effort sail wide of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Matt-Pickens-c24777' post.
The Rapids’ best chance came in the early stages of the game when the ever brisk http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chris-Wingert-c9037, however, cleared the danger to ensure a barren score line at the half-time whistle.
Espindola had an early chance in the second half and slotted the ball into the net past Pickens, however, the assistant referee raised the flag to call the player offside.
The injury time set-piece, though, changed the result and Rio Tinto kept the streak of undefeated matches. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Morales-c18076 lined up to take the free-kick from 25 yards out. His excellent effort cannoned off the post and fell kindly to Paulo Junior. The youngster fed Espindola who made no mistake from a few yards out to add an eleventh hour goal to the score line.
This marks the fourth win for the Claret and Cobalt in as many matches since the start of the 2011 season. Jason Kreis’ boys sit atop both the Western Conference and overall standings, followed by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Colorado-Rapids-c38849 in the second place.
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