Real Salt Lake played out a scrappy goalless draw against Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday. The key moment in the match came in the 88th minute, when Dillon Rodgers shot his spot-kick wide of goal.
Both teams were coming into the game with back-to-back losses and were in desperate need of a win to kick-start their season.
RSL had their first chance of the half as early as the 13rd minute when Saborio was gifted a free header from an RSL corner, which he was unable to capitalize on. The Costa Rican was again involved in the action in the 25th minute, when he forced his way into the Rapids box. The resulting phase of play found Joao Plata in front of goal, whose shot was blocked in the box.
The best chance of the half fell to Saborio once again in the 38th minute, when a Morales cross following a set-piece found the RSL frontman in the box. Despite allowed time and space, Saborio again failed to direct his header on target.
RSL were hindered by an injury to Jamison Olave, who had to be subbed off in the 6th minute.
Having conceded the lion’s share of possession in the first-half, the Rapids slowly started to get a foothold in the second forty-five. Sam Cronin had an opportunity in the 53rd minute after some good build-up play outside the RSL box, but his volley was straight at Rimando.
RSL’s second half performance was uninspiring, and it was not until the last 10 minutes when the home side came alive. Javier Morales found Plata at the edge of the box, whose effort just went wide. Luke Mulholland ghosted at the back post to follow-up on a deep cross from Abdouliie Mansally, and would have been disappointed not to bury that opportunity.
Colorado Rapids had an opportunity to snatch the game in the dying moments when RSL substitute Aaron Maund clipped forward Luis Solignac in the 88th minute. Dillon Powers stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was disappointingly off-target.
The missed PK summed up the mood in either camp – in a game where the quality was below par.
The result leaves RSL and Rapids at 9th and 10th places respectively, and while a playoff spot is not out of reach for either side at this stage, the performances for either side ask for a lot of improvement.
