Goals by Panamanian striker Roberto Brown and Kyle Beckerman four minutes apart late in the second half allowed the Colorado Rapids to take the first round of the Rocky Mountain Cup on the road against Real Salt Lake in a 2-0 victory and move into the top spot in the Western Conference.
Earning seven points in their first four league outings is the best start for the Rapids since the 2002 season, when they matched that mark. Real Salt Lake are still looking for their first victory of the year; Colorado now leads the all-time series against Real 6-2-1.
Even though the Rapids started out with high pressure that put Salt Lake on its heels initially, it was a poor clearance from Mike Petke that nearly spelled disaster for Colorado in just the second minute of play.
Petke attempted to clear out a high ball about 30 yards from goal. His clearance, however, fell directly into the path of Chris Klein who was steaming toward goal. Klein barreled through the Rapids defense uncontested before letting a shot go well high from just outside the area.
Another defensive miscue came when Rapids center back Pablo Mastroeni was dispossessed by Jeff Cunningham just wide of the Colorado area. Cunningham raced to the end line and sent in a cross that was struck on goal by Mehdi Ballouchy. Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul was able to collapse onto the low shot and cradle it to safety.
The Rapids goalkeeper was busy in the following minute, rushing out the top of his box to clear away a high bouncing ball that nearly connected with a rushing Cunningham.
At the other end of the field Beckerman cracked the first scoring chance for the Rapids. After eluding Jason Kreis with a quick fake, Beckerman sent a vicious blast on frame that forced a diving save from Chris Seitz. Seitz was starting his first career game; at 20 years, 49 days of age, he was the second-youngest goalkeeper to start a game in MLS history.
Coundoul ventured off his line often. The practice looked to have gotten him in trouble in the 32nd minute as he chased Cunningham into the corner. Facing the RSL striker one-on-one, Coundoul was able to force the ball out of play to give his defense time to recover.
On the other side of the intermission the Rapids continued with their high pressure tactics. In the 49th minute Herculez Gomez took advantage of some empty space in front of him, just outside the corner of the box, and fired a bullet that required Seitz to fully extend his dive to deflect out of danger.
RSL raced to the other end on a counterattack that resulted in a 30-yard bomb from Carey Talley, but it was shot right at the chest of Coundoul.
The Rapids broke the stalemate in the 71st minute on a strike from Brown. A long ball flew down the right flank and bounced past Danny Torres on the artificial surface. The Panamian international blew past Torres to gather the ball just inside the penalty area and cut back inside, causing the RSL defender to stumble. With a wide open look at goal, Brown pounded his chance into the upper corner, giving Seitz no chance.
With the goal, the ball seemed to bounce more in Colorado's direction. In the 74th minute Seitz picked up a backpass from his own defender, Jack Stewart, resulting in an indirect kick inside the box.
The initial strike, taken by Gomez, sailed under the wall and hit the back of the net, but it was called back because referee Abbey Okulaja had not blown his whistle. The following strike, also taken by Gomez, deflected of the RSL wall but fell nicely to Beckerman at the top of the area, whose volley skipped through traffic and into the twine.
Repeated waves of late attacks from the home side were constantly absorbed by the Colorado defense, keeping the shutout intact and moving the Rapids to the top of the Western Conference.
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
