The Colorado Rapids continue making life difficult for teams contending for the playoffs, using an early goal to edge rivals Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday night
Just three minutes into the game, Rapids forward Alan Gordon cleverly flicked a pass to Joshua Gatt at the top of the box, and the 26-year-old calmly finished to put the home side ahead. Colorado then sat back and absorbed all kinds of pressure the rest of the game – with Salt Lake outshooting Colorado 30-2 while maintaining 72 percent of the possession – without conceding the equalizer.
The result is costly for RSL, who sit on 42 points, one behind San Jose and Dallas for the final playoff spot with one game to go.
Goals
- 3' – COL – Josh Gatt Watch
Three Things
- SPOILER: Having been eliminated from the playoffs a couple weeks ago, and having already conceded the Rocky Mountain Cup to RSL after losing the first two meetings of the season, Colorado turned spoiler on Sunday night. RSL entered the match even with San Jose and one point behind Dallas for the final West playoff spot. Dallas fell to Seattle 4-0, and San Jose scored late to tie Vancouver, leaving San Jose in and Dallas one point ahead. Everything will be decided simultaneously on Decision Day presented by AT&T.
- KEY PLAY: While RSL completed dominated the match after conceding the early goal, they struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Yes, Tim Howard came up big a handful of times, but perhaps the save of the game came from Marlon Hairston at the 23 minute mark. RSL's Luis Silva nicely sprung Joao Plata on a break that Howard slowed down, and Hairston's hustle and lunging slide on the goal line was what prevented Plata from tapping in the equalizer. WATCH HERE.
- GATT AGAIN: After showing talent but battling injuries while playing overseas, Gatt moved to MLS this year and was acquired by the Rapids in a March trade with Minnesota. And in a down year, the Rapids faithful may find comfort – or hope – in the former U.S. international finding his footing in burgundy. Tonight was his 11th start and 19th appearance, and his goal was his second of the season, both scored against his new side's biggest rivals.
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