COMMERCE CITY, COLO. - The Colorado Rapids secured their first shutout victory of the season against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake with a 2-0 win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. With the win, the Rapids remain unbeaten on their home pitch for the 2009 season with a 2-0-1 mark.
Rapids' goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who was making his first start since March 28, registered the clean sheet, as Colorado kept the visitors winless on the road this season.
Colorado opened the night's scoring early off the head of Nick LaBrocca in the 11th minute for his first goal of the season. Conor Casey found Colin Clark on the left wing and the Fort Collins native put a pinpoint cross into LaBrocca's path. All the Rutgers product had to do was nod the ball past Nick Rimando giving the Rapids the early advantage.
Rimando would exit the game in the 35th minute after a collision with Casey left his hand severely cut. Three-year veteran Kyle Reynish entered the match at goalkeeper for RSL earning his first career MLS regular season action.
Real Salt Lake would see their line-up altered again in the 41st minute, when Jamison Olave was shown a red card for a two-footed tackle on Casey.
It would be Kosuke Kimura who put the insurance goal in for the Rapids, as he scored his first MLS career goal in the 60th minute giving Colorado the 2-0 lead. Jordan Harvey crossed the ball on top of the RSL penalty area to Terry Cooke, who laid a pass off to an on-rushing Kimura. Kimura buried a low driven shot to the far left post past a diving Reynish.
The Rapids have a bye next week before returning to regular season action on Saturday, May 16 when they travel to face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium at 5:30 pm MT.
Scoring Summary:
COL - LaBrocca (Clark, Casey) 11
COL- Kimura (Cooke, Harvey) 60
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave (Kyle Reynish 35), Kyle Beckerman, Nat Borchers, Will Johnson, Robbie Findley, Javier Morales, Yura Movsisyan (Ned Grabavoy 66), Chris Wingert, Clint Mathis (Tony Beltran 74)
Substitutes Not Used: Jean Alexandre, Luis Miguel Escalada, David Hurst, Andy Williams
Colorado Rapids: Matt Pickens, Jordan Harvey, Ugo Ihemelu, Conor Casey, Terry Cooke (Jacob Peterson 68), Omar Cummings (Mehdi Ballouchy 76), Nick LaBrocca, Colin Clark, Pablo Mastroeni (Greg Dalby 90), Kosuke Kimura, Scott Palquta
Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Ty Harden, Ivan Guerro, Ross Schunk
Misconduct Summary:
COL - Ihemelu (caution, Reckless Tackle) 37
RSL - Olave (ejection, Serious Foul Play) 41
RSL - Findley (caution, Reckless Tackle) 54
RSL - Beckerman (caution, Tactical Foul)
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Eric Boria
Fourth Official: Landis Wiley
Attendance: 9,045
AT&T Rapids Man of the Match: Kosuke Kimura
