REAL SALT Lake (RSL) and the Colorado Rapids (CR) played in the ’battle for the West’ for first blood and a first place berth in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The match took place in Commerce City, Colorado, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, on May 15, 2008. The match was played before 11,414 spectators.

First half

It was an intense first half with both the teams in complete control of the game and blocking any attempts at the goal. In the heat of the moment, Chris Wingert of RSL received a booking for a reckless foul within 26 minutes of the game.

Real Salt Lake had many opportunities that were lost, such as the one in which Wingert attempted a cross that was deflected by Coundoul. Another unsuccessful attempt at the net was made by Williams, but the ball was far from post. Two more chances went begging for the RSL. One was when Kenny Deuchar attempted to head the ball down the net but it was blocked by Kimura. The second came when Beckerman attempted another shot at the goal but was blocked by Coundoul.

The Rapids attempted to score, with Omar Cummings kicking the ball down the net after a corner kick by Christian Gomez only to have it deflected by Rimando. The first half ended without any goals being scored.

Second half

The intensity of the first half was carried into the second half too, but both the teams failed to score. It appeared that everything was going to remain the same and predictable when Cummings, with some help from Colin Clark and Hercules Gomez, scored the first goal of the game for the CR in the 65th minute. The crowd at the stadium was at its loudest and this encouraged a goal from Christian Gomez. The goal was scored from a penalty kick in the 83rd minute.

It was too late for RSL to make up the lost ground as they lost the opportunity to move to the first place in the Western Conference of MLS. The last few minutes of the match left Real Salt Lake exhausted and in agony while the Colorado Rapids were exhausted but celebrating a hard earned victory.

Verdict

Both the teams showed that they were the best in the field. Unfortunately, RSL made many mistakes that cost it a chance to occupy the first place in the Western Conference. The attempts of Real Salt Lake to score a goal were the equivalent of crashing a car against a wall with the Rapids blocking every move.

The CR on the other hand were able to break free from any attempted grip by RSL. This provided the last 25 minutes of the match with some much needed excitement. The winners were more organised and efficient. Omar Cummings of the Rapids was declared the ’Player of the Match’.