It was unfamiliar circumstances for a familiar battle.
A Rocky Mountain Cup match not in the Rocky Mountains, but in Orlando? And not only that, the third game of the season coming in July, after four months off due to the coronavirus?
But RSL’s first game of the MLS is Back Tournament meant their first win of the season. The claret and cobalt eased their way to a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids late Sunday night, getting goals from their dynamic midfielders Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach in a pretty complete performance throughout.
“It felt great to finally be back out on the field and play a competitive game,” Rusnak said. “To start a tournament with a win is huge.”
Not only that, it was a dominant win — goalscoring chances came early and often for RSL. First, Corey Baird and Kreilach played a nice one-two at the top of the box in the sixth minute, but Baird wasn’t able to finish, pinging the ball off the crossbar.
RSL’s first goal came after sustained pressure, as the team dominated possession in the first half. In the 27th minute, Honduran striker Douglas Martinez Jr. whipped in a low cross, forcing Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin to intervene. But the ball went right out to Rusnak about 12 yards from goal, who hit the ball towards goal, squirreling between Colorado defenders to squeeze in the net.
Rusnak got another chance at the goal in the second half when Martinez earned a penalty on a horrific backpass and miscommunication from the Rapids backline. But the RSL designated player’s penalty was weak and too close to Irwin, and the followup from substitute Nick Besler was saved as well.
But RSL got converted on a shot just minutes later. RSL’s press turned over Colorado again, and Baird laid a nice ball off to Kreilach, who slotted into the bottom left of the Rapids’ goal from 22 yards to make it 2-0.
It was nothing less than they deserved. RSL out-possessed Colorado 54-46%, and had six shots on goal to Colorado’s weak four, nearly all of which came from distance. Kei Kamara, the Rapids’ veteran and usually prolific striker, was kept largely quiet.
The win — and its two-goal margin — pushed RSL to the top of Group D, a group that has been considered the “Group of Death” in the early days of the MLS is Back tournament. Earlier Sunday, Minnesota United completely flipped their match against Sporting Kansas City to win 2-1 with two goals in second-half stoppage time. The two both have three points at the top of the group.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/2ZlIAnh
July 13, 2020 at 10:43AM
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