SANDY, Utah -- Yura Movsisyan scored Real Salt Lake’s two goals to secure the Rocky Mountain Cup for the eighth time in the past 10 years as RSL drew even with second-place Colorado after a 2-1 win during Heineken Rivalry Week on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The victory gives Salt Lake their first hardware of the season and even opened the gates for talk of a Supporters’ Shield run.
“This is fun. This is a lot of fun,” Movsisyan said.”It's our house. We get the cup and now we look forward to the Supporters’ Shield.”
Over the past week, RSL beat first-place FC Dallas and second-place Colorado at Rio Tinto. RSL remain one of four teams unbeaten at home this season with a 8-0-5 record and with their newfound form, the striker couldn’t find a reason not to be thinking big.
“We're going to make a run for it,” Movsisyan said. “We have a good team. We have quality players. We have a great set-up here.”
After RSL gave up a goal in the fifth minute, Movsisyan equalized for RSL in the 39th minute. He put himself in front of goal and Demar Phillips found him for the tying score.
“The first goal was all Demar, Burrito and the team,” Movsisyan said.
The game-winner came in the 48th minute and was a little more of Movsisyan’s making. A ball from Joao Plata found him at the top of the box and after turning on the ball beat Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard to the near post for the 2-1 advantage.
“That's a world-class strike,” RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said. “He's worked extremely hard to get back to full fitness and you're seeing him really strong, really fit and really helping us out.”
There was plenty of cause for celebration for the hosts on the night. In addition to three points at home and the Rocky Mountain Cup, goalkeeper Nick Rimando set the all-time regular season appearance mark with his 417th game played in MLS and Kyle Beckerman set the all-time minutes record for field players, passing Steve Ralston in the 88th minute.
“It's a special night on a lot of fronts,” Cassar said. “Both [Kyle] and Nick are achieving individual goals that show what kind of pros they are and what kind of character they have and what they have meant not just to RSL, but the league in general.”
Salt Lake now have the stretch run laid out in front of them. They trail FC Dallas by two points for both the Supporters’ Shield and the top spot in the Western Conference and are poised for the final months of the MLS season.
“We have everything to play for right now, which is a wonderful thing,” Cassar said.
