It only took the first half for Real Salt Lake to mount a substantial advantage over the Colorado Rapids. Here are the goals that put them ahead.
In the 32nd minute, Ned Grabavoy’s back-heeled pass to Joao Plata just outside the box set up the goalscoring forward to curl a right-footed shot into the upper right hand corner of the net.
Off a corner kick, Javier Morales managed to skid a header from a steep angle past goalkeeper Joe Nasco in the 33rd minute. Real broke the even scoreline, now leading 2-1
Poor goalkeeping by Nasco, bobbling a curled kick, allowed Chris Schuler to bury a close-range tap-in goal from the set piece effort in the 37th minute.
In the 45th minute, Nasco deflects Real’s effort on the doorstep following some nice buildup play.
Nasco mishandled another shot, and Carlos Salcedo was there to bury it in the 63rd minute for Salt Lake’s fifth goal.