Real Salt Lake Scores Four Unanswered Goals In Second Half In Comeback Win Over Rival Rapids

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake bounced back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat rival Colorado Rapids behind four unanswered goals in the second half.

RSL played on the road against the Rapids in Commerce City, Colorado on Saturday, August 22.

4️⃣ unanswered goals in the second half. 👀 @realsaltlake cruises to a 4-1 win over rival @ColoradoRapids. #RSL #RSLonKSL
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/pA8vRd0QHl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 23, 2020

Late in the first half, Colorado took a 1-0 lead on an own-goal by Real Salt Lake defender Aaron Herrera during the 38th minute.

RSL head coach Freddy Juarez sparked his team with multiple lineup changes in the second 45 minutes, including the insertion of Maikel Chang into the lineup at the start of the second half.

“There’s a lot of guys that are playing very good. It’s just sometimes hard to put them in or tactically maybe doesn’t make sense. This one made perfect sense,” Juarez said after the win. “We made the change and it functions. It’s not always going to come through but the attempt is to try to better the team, and we did.”

In the 57th minute of play, midfielder Damir Kreilach buried a rocket of a shot into the right side of the net for an equalizer.

DOMINATION from #RSL. Wow. pic.twitter.com/WRtVu2pA3Q

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 23, 2020

Chang took advantage of a scoring opportunity inside the box as Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough fell to the turf. The goal was Chang’s first in MLS play.

76' – Chang picks up the pieces

2-1 pic.twitter.com/TNp1hy3oQV

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 23, 2020

In the 85th minute, forward Corey Baird stepped up into the box and buried a shot for his first goal of the year.

Corey Baird nabs his first of the season & @realsaltlake are rolling up 3-1 now! #COLvRSL pic.twitter.com/WUUkqvo4s3

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 23, 2020

Shortly after Baird’s score, Justin Meram joined the party and scored his 44th career goal and RSL’s fourth goal in 32 minutes.

89' – that's good combo play pic.twitter.com/x6FojB6y1m

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 23, 2020

With the win, RSL claimed the Rocky Mountain Cup and their fifth straight victory over the Rapids.

Rocky Mountain Cup champions!!!!! pic.twitter.com/AKE085yheM

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 23, 2020

In their last five meetings, Colorado has been outscored 17-3 by Real Salt Lake.

The goal moved RSL to a record of 2-3-1 on the season.