Real Salt Lake (11-7-5, 38 points, West #1) picked up a result on Saturday at the Colorado Rapids (9-7-8, 35 points, West #2), tying its longtime rival 2-2 in a weather-delayed match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. While the draw kept the Claret-and-Cobalt in first-place in both MLS and the Western Conference, it wasn't enough for the team to retain the 2013 Rocky Mountain Cup Presented by Mark Miller Subaru, which transferred to the Rapids for the first time since 2006. RSL finished its regular season series against Colorado with a 0-1-2 record, tying the Rapids 1-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 16 before falling 1-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on April 6. Real Salt Lake got off to a tremendous start on Saturday, taking the lead through MF Ned Grabavoy in just the second minute. MF Kyle Beckerman - making his return to the lineup after missing the last four games while on international duty - created the goal, collecting a ball on the right wing and curling a low cross to a wide-open Grabavoy at the back post for a tap in goal. Unfortunately, RSL's lead didn't last long, with Colorado MF Deshorn Brown equalizing in the ninth minute. DF Marvell Wynne flicked GK Clint Irwin's goal kick into space in the middle of RSL's third and Brown did the rest, muscling past a RSL defender at the top of the box before hitting a first time shot past RSL GK Nick Rimando as he was going to ground. Real Salt Lake FW Robbie Findley earned a penalty kick for the Claret-and-Cobalt in the 20th minute. The speedy striker collected a pass on the left side, cutting in on his right foot and dribbling into the box before being taken down inside the area by Rapids DF Drew Moor. Referee Fotis Bazakos immediately pointed to the spot for a penalty, but bizarrely whistled for a lightning-delay just as Claret-and-Cobalt FW Alvaro Saborio was stepping to the PK. The ensuing weather delay lasted 62 minutes, with Saborio forced to contemplate his spot kick in the locker room. Thankfully for RSL, the delay didn't faze the Costa Rican international, who buried the penalty into the lower left corner to put the Utah side up 2-1. Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jason Kreis was forced into a substitution in the 24th minute, bringing injured MF Javier Morales (R adductor pain) as a precaution. The Claret-and-Cobalt had two more decent looks in the first half, with MF Luis Gil nearly scoring an Olimpico from a corner kick in the 38th minute before Morales replacement MF Khari Stephenson blasted a long-range shot that Irwin held in the 40th. Colorado came out firing in the second half, generating plenty of chances and putting RSL on its back foot. Rimando - who, like Beckerman, was also playing his first match in a month following his return from international duty - kept the Claret-and-Cobalt in the match with several huge stops throughout the second half, the first two of which came in the 53rd minute. Colorado FW Jaime Castrillon got on the end of a set piece at the top-left corner of the six, flicking a header toward the far post that Rimando kept out with a diving save to his left. He quickly got to his feet and raced to the other side of the net to again parry away the ball, which had deflected off of RSL DF Nat Borchers and almost crossed the goal line following Rimando's initial save. The Rapids had another chance in the 55th minute. MF Shane O'Neill whipped in a cross from the right wing, picking out Brown at the back post. The rookie striker had a good look at goal, but couldn't keep his header on frame, sending it wide of the left post. Colorado found the equalizer in the 70th minute. DF Chris Klute collected MF Dillon Powers' through ball on the left wing, taking the ball to the end line before curling a cross into the area that Castrillon headed inside the near post from the left corner of the six. Rimando came up huge again in the 85th and 87th minutes, making several more big saves to preserve the point for RSL. Real Salt Lake will return to action on Wednesday, when it will host the Portland Timbers at Rio Tinto Stadium in a 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal. Tickets are available for Wednesday's match and can be purchased online, at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
