SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake suffered defeat against rivals Colorado Rapids away from home despite firing the first blow.

It was two second-half goals in which RSL conceded to ultimately lose against the in-form Rapids.

“Great display from our guys, I thought we played well, fought hard.” Manager Freddy Juarez said post-game. “In a game like this I thought we needed better officiating than that,” he added.

RSL returned center-back Justen Glad to the starting XI after he sat on the bench coming off yellow card suspension against Houston midweek. Rubio Rubin also received his first start in some time after Bobby Wood failed to travel with the team as he battles a mild hamstring strain.

😁😠🙂🙂🙂😠
😠😠😠😁🙂 pic.twitter.com/xMV8cp3dEU

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 22, 2021

Nonetheless, goalkeeper Zac MacMath entered and started the fixture with a sore knee. His injury proved costly.

RSL began the match in magnificent form. They controlled all elements of the fixture and were clearly in charge.

Rubin thought he scored the game’s first goal when he found himself in the right place at the right time after Rusnak played a beautifully waited ball onto the foot of Glad who then hit a pass across the face of the goal onto the stretching thigh of Rubin.

However, Glad was ruled offside after the head referee went to the VAR machine. The goal was disallowed.

At halftime, Juarez made the first change of the game when he took off MacMath and gave third-string goalkeeper Andrew Putna his first minutes of the year.

First Blood RSL

Rusnak then found the back of the net after Aaron Herrera played a beautiful pass onto the right foot of Rusnak who was waiting at the top of the box. His shot found the top right-hand corner of the net and gave the visitors the 1-0 advantage.

Albert Rusnák breaks the tie and gives @realsaltlake a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute. 🚀⚽️#RSL #RSLonKSL #COvRSL pic.twitter.com/xXxmYOfvNp

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 22, 2021

That is when Colorado dug in and found their groove.

Rapids head coach Robin Fraser made three substitutions in the 65th minute, a minute after the Rapids leveled the contest and the game was never the same for RSL.

The Momentum Change

In a superb showing, the Rapids dominated the 10 minutes between the 64th and 74th minutes.

Diego Rubio converts the corner and levels the match for the Rapids in the 64th minute.@realsaltlake 1@ColoradoRapids 1#RSL #RSLonKSL #COvRSL pic.twitter.com/K4Nzx7mYCT

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 22, 2021

The first goal came from a corner kick when Diego Rubio got on the end of the cross. Then, Mark-Anthony Kaye made an unmarked run into the area and punished the ball into the back of the net.

What a time to score your first #Rapids96 goal!! 🔥#COLvRSL pic.twitter.com/c9wj9fvgIj

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) August 22, 2021

RSL thought they were going to have a chance to level things when Damir Kreilach was dragged down in the area after Justin Meram put in a wonderful delivery to the back post in the final minutes of the game. Kreilach was ruled offside, and the penalty no longer stood.

“I think this was one of the best games we have played this season, as much as it hurts we have to look at the positives,” Rubin said post-game. “We are in a great place right now in the table, but we have to make the playoffs. Once we get in it is a one-game elimination, we just have to get in.”

Kreilach Suspended

Tempers flared towards the end of the game. Kreilach saw his fifth yellow card of the season and will consequently be suspended for RSL’s next regular season fixture on August 29th when they travel to Vancouver.