Jacob Peterson continues to do just what Real Salt Lake doesn't want to see -- at least in the U.S. Open Cup.
A year ago, his goal was the only goal of the game as the Colorado Rapids knocked out Real in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, and Wednesday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park he did it again, scoring two goals -- including the dramatic game-winner in second-half stoppage time -- to give the Rapids a 2-1 victory in the second round Open Cup play-in game between the teams.
With the victory, the Rapids qualify for the tournament proper, where they will be drawn along with seven other MLS clubs into the round-of-16.
Colorado head coach Fernando Clavijo started only three men who had started any games in the Rapids regular season, with Ugo Ihemelu and Dan Gargan each having four starts on the season and Chris Wingert starting the most recent match, when three Rapids starting defenders were sidelined with injuries.
It was an opportunity for Colorado's bench players to shine, and the offense wasted little time putting pressure on RSL goalkeeper Chris Seitz.
Nick LaBrocca and Jose Cancela kept the approach fluid, crossing the ball from one wing to another and keeping the RSL defense on its toes. Cancela paced the Rapids early with three first half shots, none on goal, and LaBrocca forced a pair of saves from Seitz before the break.
Peterson made his presence known early, taking on two RSL defenders before cutting in toward the goal and getting a hard left-footed shot off just wide of the goal.
Conor Casey, making his first start with Colorado, made himself a constant threat in the offensive third, challenging Seitz with a hard shot to the left side of the goal. Seitz dove to his right for the save.
Zach Thornton started in the goal for Colorado, having seen no action in the season's first eight games. He made two saves in the first half and was aggressive in the box, coming 17 yards out in the 25th minute to complete a dangerous play in stealing a ball from RSL striker Atiba Harris, who was tangling with Ihemelu at the top of the box.
Colorado was quick to strike in the second half. Seitz punched the ball out from a flurry of activity in front of the goal, and Peterson connected off Seitz's clearance, drilling the ball into the far right corner of the goal for a 1-0 advantage.
RSL pulled level in the 64th minute when Ballouchy led Chris Klein with a pass 15 yards in front of the goal. Klein shot to the far right, burying the ball beyond the grasp of a leaping Thornton.
The visitors nearly took the lead in the 68th minute when Chris Brown bounced a shot of the upper post from 20 yards out.
Omar Cummings, a 66th-minute substitution for Nico Colaluca, had an excellent opportunity in the 73rd minute, taking a lead from Casey and beating a defender before unloading a shot that sailed just wide of the goal.
Harris penetrated the box in the 75th minute and challenged Thornton with a hard shot that the 'keeper was able to reach up and deflect.
With extra time pending on the horizon, Colorado brought Pablo Mastroeni into the game for Ihemelu in the 85th minute. RSL followed with a dangerous series in the area, with Stephen Keel clearing the ball from in front of the goal.
The Rapids had a pair of promising chances in the final minutes of regulation, culminating in Cummings scrambling and getting a shot off from just outside the six, only to have Seitz make the save.
In the game's final seconds Casey took possession near midfield and sent a leading pass up the right wing to Peterson, who pounded a shot off the left post, where it bounced into the net for the game-winner.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
