Real Salt Lake edge out Colorado Rapids

May 18, 2014 at 2.30am UK

FT(HT: 1-0)

Moor (83')

Goals from Joao Plata and Javier Morales hand Real Salt Lake a narrow win over the Colorado Rapids in their MLS clash.

Published: May 18 2014 | 05:17

Last updated: May 18 2014 | 13:41

Real Salt Lake maintained their unbeaten start to the MLS season as they recorded a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids.

The home side pressed from the start and Chris Wingert tested the handling ability of Clinton Irwin with a long-range shot which the keeper was forced to parry away.

Salt Lake took the lead in the 23rd minute when Javier Morales found Plata in space down the left and the forward drove into the box before slotting the ball past Irwin into the net.

The Rapids tried to respond immediately and they went close through Edson Buddle, but he failed to hit the target as he rose highest to head a corner at goal.

Colorado came within inches of finding an equaliser as Buddle again met a free kick from Jose Mari, but his header clipped the outside of the post and went wide.

After the break, Real were handed the chance to double their lead when Drew Moor brought down Devon Sandoval in the area and a penalty was awarded. Morales took the spot kick and fired it past Irwin into the top corner.

The Rapids upped the ante to get back into the game and nearly did in spectacular fashion as Dillon Serna did well to beat two men down the right and cut back onto his left foot to strike at goal, but Jeff Attinella was on hand to make the save.

Colorado gave themselves a glimmer of hope seven minutes from time when Moor guided a header past Attinella from Serna's free kick. However, they couldn't find a second goal as Salt Lake held out for the three points.

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Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21