PREVIEW

 

Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids played in the Battle for the West for first blood and a first place berth in the Rocky Mountain Cup. The Battle for the West took place in Commerce City, Colorado at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium before a public of Eleven Thousand Four Hundred and Fourteen. The Battle for the West was transmitted live by ESPN on the fifteenth of May 2008.

 

FIRST HALF

 

It was an intense first half with Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids in possession of the game with both teams blocking any attempts at goals. In the heat of the moment, Chris Wingert of Real Salt Lake received a booking for a reckless foul within twenty six minutes of the game. Regardless, Real Salt Lake had many opportunities that were lost such as the one in which Wingert attempted a cross that was deflected by Coundoul, an attempt by Williams to goal although it was far from the net, and Deuchar attempting to head the ball down the net but having it blocked by Kimura. Beckerman attempted another goal but was blocked by Coundoul

The Colorado Rapids attempted to score with Cummings attempting to kick the ball down the net after a corner kick by Christian Gomez only to have it deflected by Rimando. The First Half continued into the Second half with no score.

 

SECOND HALF

 

The Second Half continued in intensity with attempts by the Rapids and Real Salt Lake to score only to have near misses. It appeared that everything was going to remain the same and predictable when Omar Cummings with some help from Colin Clark and Hercules Gomez scored the first goal of the game for the Colorado Rapids at Sixty Five Minutes. The crowds at Commerce Park, Colorado were at a fever pitch and this encouraged a goal by Christian Gomez on the basis of a penalty kick at Eighty Three Minutes. It was too late for Real Salt Lake to make up for lost ground as they lost their opportunity to classify for First Place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer [MLS] or the Rocky Mountain Cup. The Last Few Minutes of the Battle for the West left Real Salt Lake exhausted and in agony while the Colorado Rapids were exhausted but celebrating a hard earned victory.

 

VERDICT

 

Both teams have shown themselves to be the best in the field. Unfortunately, Real Salt Lake made many mistakes that cost them any chances for First Place in the Western Conference of the MLS. Of course, the attempts of Real Salt Lake in scoring a goal were the equivalent of crashing a car against a wall with the Colorado Rapids blocking every move. The Colorado Rapids on the other hand were able to break free from any attempted grip by Real Salt Lake in order to give the last twenty five minutes of the game some much needed excitement. The Colorado Rapids were more organized and efficient.

 

Player of the Match: Omar Cummings

 

Real Salt Lake: 3/10

Colorado Rapids: 7/10

 

 

Colorado Rapids 2-0 Real Salt Lake