Real Salt Lake misses out on Rocky Mountain Cup, but inches closer to playoffs with 1-0 win over Colorado
Diogo Gonçalves scored the lone goal of the match in the 39th minute, and Real Salt Lake’s defense did the rest with a 1-0 win over Rocky Mountain rival Colorado in a home finale.
Real Salt Lake claimed a shutout and 3 crucial points in the final home match of the regular season Saturday night.
The group lost out on the Rocky Mountain Cup. But that seemed secondary, at best, by the team’s reaction.
Diogo Gonçalves scored the lone goal of the match in the 39th minute, and Real Salt Lake’s defense did the rest with a 1-0 win over Rocky Mountain rival Colorado in the final home match of the regular season in Sandy.
Rafael Cabral made three saves to keep the shutout for Salt Lake, which improved to 12-16-4 for 40 points for a tie for ninth in the Western Conference — and a game in hand on the Rapids.
Colorado (11-15-7, 40 points) will retain the Rocky Mountain Cup via 1-1 draw in the rare home-and-home aggregate series. But that hardly seemed to matter as RSL fans cheered a win in the final home match of the regular season and Salt Lake players and staff let out a primal roar upon the final whistle at America First Field.
“I think we all know what’s on the line right now,” said RSL center back Justen Glad, who had “one of his best games defensively” of the year, per manager Pablo Mastroeni. “We’ve had our sights set on the playoffs all season.”
RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said Glad “probably had one of his best games defensively.” But he, too, admitted to being locked in on earning 3 points at home — even in a Derby match.
”I think we were just trying to secure the win,” Mastroeni. “Ideally, we’re wasting our time, getting our team forward, and all that.
That was certainly the case for Cabral, who planted the flag for the final time in front of the fans in the south end.
“His performance was inspirational,” Mastroeni said. “He’s elite, and if it wasn’t for him tonight, I don’t think we get 3 points.”
Gonçalves struck first, converting his first goal since late July in the 39th minute to put the hosts ahead on Rwan Cruz’s first assist in an RSL shirt.
Salt Lake out-shot Colorado 8-3 in the first half, holding the visitors to just one shot on target — a 33rd minute attempt by Paxten Aaronson that Cabral easily scooped up for the save.
Cabral and the back line kept the clean sheet through 90 minutes of regulation, though not without chances — including a back-heel attempt by Darren Yapi that the newly extended 35-year-old Brazilian shot stopper was quick to save near the bottom right corner in the first minute of stoppage time.
“You need so much fortune to win these games,” Mastroeni said. “And we don’t talk about it because it’s too abstract, but it’s real. In sport, you need the breaks — and the breaks create momentum, and momentum drives the group forward.”
REAL SALT LAKE 1-0 COLORADO RAPIDS
Post-match press conference
HEAD COACH PABLO MASTROENI
On losing out on Rocky Mountain Cup but earning 3 points:
“If they score a goal, now it’s 2-0 and the game’s ice. Which is why I always tell the players to make the best decision possible. It’s hard in that moment, because it’s very emotional. But I don’t think there’s a right decision always … There are so many variables that go into it.”
On clean sheet:
”I think Rafa is probably the best goalkeeper in this league. And tonight, he showed it. But it also started from the front; Victor and Rwan defending from the front, and back.”
“Ninth is not something we’re going to throw a party for. We’ve been through a lot this year … We’ve got to get to the seventh spot. The group is driving the narrative; there’s no one resting.”
“To be able to dictate our own fate is pretty powerful.”
DF JUSTEN GLAD
What was working defensively?
“I think we were just locked in for the full game. We’ve had an opportunity to get shutouts, and then a sloppy goal or something like that, and we give away a cheap one.”
On Rafa Cabral’s performance in goal:
”He was incredible tonight. I think he’s been incredible, making big saves all year, and tonight was no different. He’s been massive.”
On the playoff chase:
”I just looked right outside, and it’s tight as usual. It’s going to take a couple more points, a couple more wins, and that’s the mentality.
“Every one in that locker room believes that we are a top team, and we can compete with anyone. Now it’s just time to show it.”
DF NOEL CALISKAN
On his positional flexibility:
“Where ever the team needs me, I’ll play. If that’s at right back, the six, something else; I just want to be in the 11. That’s my goal.”
On playing how the team is capable:
“I don’t think this was our best performance, to be honest. I thought last week was an overall better performance … This week, it started to get a little ugly towards the end. But the last two games show that we’re still believing, still fighting to make the playoffs. We’re now in a playoff spot, and we don’t want to drop out.”
On Rafa Cabral’s performance in goal:
“Top. 11 out of 10. We’re trying to do our best to block shots. But when you’re up 1-0 late in the game, teams are willing to just throw forward. There will be moments where we have to rely on Rafa … and more often than not, he’s come up huge. So I’m not surprised.”
On the final stretch of the regular season:
“If we win out, we’re in. Period. So that’s what we’re going to try to do.”