A hat-trick from midfielder Luchi Gonzalez lead the way as the Rapids Reserves defeated the Real Salt Lake reserves 5-1 at the Rapids Training Facility on Sunday morning.
The home side got on the board first in the 19th minute. Gonzalez took a pass from Josh Elbaum and got his first goal as his shot beat Real 'keeper Chad Sackett.
The Rapids kept the pressure up throughout the first half and Elbaum recorded his second assist of the game when he played a through ball to Fabrice Noel. The Haitian teenager broke in alone on goal, deftly beat the goalie and calmly placed the ball into the back of the net.
The goals kept coming for the Black and Blue in the 34th minute. A poorly cleared corner kick landed at the feet of defender Amir Lowery. The Wake Forest product knew just what to do, as he scored his first goal of the reserve season.
A penalty kick gave Gonzalez his second goal. Sackett guessed wrong as the former SMU Mustang closed the first half scoring in the 40th minute.
Real Salt Lake came out in the second half determined not to be embarrassed in front of a contingent of fans who made the 8 hour trip to the Denver area. Their effort was rewarded in the 49th minute when their pressure on the goal of Bouna Coundoul finally paid off. Substitute Adam Acosta played a ball back to Jamie Watson whose shot was the only one in the game to beat Coundoul.
The Rapids 'keeper made several saves throughout the match to keep the Real Reserves to only one tally.
Gonzalez finished his hat-trick and closed the Mile High Club's scoring account in the 62nd minute. Defender Stephen Keel one-timed a Real clearance toward the corner flag, from there it was all Gonzalez. The former Herman Trophy winner faked going to his left and cut the ball back to the right leaving his defender to question where he went. Alone on goal, Gonzalez easily beat Sackett to the far post.
SCORING:
COL - Luchi Gonzalez (Josh Elbaum) 19, Fabrice Noel (Josh Elbaum) 27, Amir Lowery (unassisted) 34, Luchi Gonzalez (Penalty Kick) 40, Luchi Gonzalez (Stephen Keel) 62
RSL - Jamie Watson (Adam Acosta) 48
LINEUPS:
COL- Bouna Coundoul, Hunter Freeman, Ritchie Kotschau, Stephen Keel,
Ricky Lewis, Sasha Gotsmanov, Fabrice Noel, Amir Lowery (Ben Holingsworth 63)
, Josh Elbaum (Diego Serna 46), Luchi Gonzalez (Alexandre Boucicaut 71), Wolde
Harris
Subs Not Used: Mike Cardenas, Jeff Cunningham
RSL- Chad Sackett, Camron Knowles (Adam Acosta 46), Michael Lookingland,
Kevin Novak, Sergio Flores (Nelson Akwari 63), Aldolfo Gregorio, Leslie
Fitzpatrick, Andy Williams (Brian Kamler 74), Luke Kraemalmeyer, Jamie Watson, Dante
Washington
Subs not used: D.J. Countess
MISCONDUCT:
COL - Amir Lowery (Caution) 42
COL - Ricky Lewis (Caution) 55
RSL - Brian Kamler (Ejection) 87
