May 18, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release
SANDY, Utah (Sat.) – Real Salt Lake (8-2-4, 28 pts, 1st West MLS) were victorious in the second leg of the 2024 Rocky Mountain Cup, scoring three goals in the final 11 minutes over the visiting Colorado Rapids. Hailed as an instant classic that saw two RSL comebacks and eight total goals scored in the highest-scoring Claret-and-Cobalt game since Sept. 2018, RSL extended its lead atop the MLS Western Conference while extending its active unbeaten run to 10 games dating back to March 9.
Watch / Listen to RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, FW Andrés Gómez and ST Chicho Arango Commentary following 5-3 home victory over Colorado Rapids on Sat.,, May 18, 2024
Disaster struck early for RSL, falling behind to the Rocky Mountain Cup rivals in the fifth minute of play. Passing calmly along the back line, RSL attempted an entry pass into the midfield when Cole Bassett came out of nowhere to intercept it. With Zac MacMath caught off guard and away from his line, Bassett took one touch and launched at the open net from distance, narrowly sneaking it beyond the outstretched glove of MacMath and into the net. The goal is the second-earliest conceded by RSL this season.
Real Salt Lake’s first chance of the affair would come in the 12th minute, displaying the counter attacking capabilities of the Claret-and-Cobalt. Winning the ball deep on the left side of Real’s defensive third, Alex Katranis played a long switch to Matt Crooks as he darted upfield. Content to take the real estate available to him, Crooks drove to the edge of the box before playing it for Andrés Gómez as he darted into the box. Cleverly flicking it forward for himself and beyond his marker, Gómez’s cross-body shot was on target before a diving Zack Steffen swallowed it up.
Starting play with a midfield throw-in around the halfway line, Colorado seemingly created another goal out of nowhere to take a two-goal advantage in the 19th minute. Rafael Navarro received the throw and darted towards the RSL box. Attempting a through-ball for his teammate, it was denied by the RSL defense but deflected and fell directly back to his feet in the center of the box, juking once and chipping over MacMath to claim the two-goal lead.
It would not take long for Real to regain some momentum in front of a standing-room only crowd, striking back to cut the lead in half just three minutes later. Matt Crooks controlled it on the right…