RSL score four after half-time to sink Rapids

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:14 am

Substitute Maikel Chang scored his first MLS goal in the 76th minute, and visiting Real Salt Lake overcame a halftime deficit to complete a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

Chang also assisted insurance goals by Corey Baird and Justin Meram for Salt Lake (2-1-3, nine points) in its second consecutive win over Colorado after a 2-0 victory in last month's MLS is Back Tournament, and Baird and Meram each added an assist.

Damir Kreilach added his third goal of the season early after halftime on an exceptional shot from distance for Salt Lake. Andrew Putna made two saves in the victory.

Diego Rubio and Younes Namli were involved when Colorado (2-3-1, seven points) opened the scoring on a play that was ultimately ruled an own goal by RSL's Aaron Herrera.

Namli also nearly matched Kreilach with his own spectacular, long-range strike in the second half that would've tied things at the time, but instead saw it clang off the left post and redirect across the goal mouth before rolling harmlessly away.

Kreilach leveled the match 12 minutes after halftime. Meram spun away from his defender, then played a pass to his right in front of the penalty arc. Kreilach stepped into it and struck it first time with a right-footed shot that barreled past goalkeeper William Yarbrough and into the top right corner.

Nearly 20 minutes after that, Yarbrough's mistake let RSL move in front. Meram tried to find Albert Rusnak inside the penalty area, and though Yarbrough charged and reached the pass first, he failed to corral it. Chang was first to the loose ball, and finished it easily into an empty net.

In the 85th minute, Chang made a long run down the right flank before crossing to Baird for a low finish that made it 3-1, and Meram added the fourth four minutes later.

Colorado took the lead in the 38th minute. Namli sliced a diagonal pass between several defenders to pick out Rubio inside the penalty area. Rubio eluded the lunge of defender Justen Glad and then attempted to pass the ball across the goal from the left. Instead, it caromed off the arm of the retreating Herrera and across the goal line.