Diego Rubio scored his first two goals of the season to fuel the Colorado Rapids to a 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday night.
This marked the first win for Colorado in three meetings with their Rocky Mountain Cup rival this season. It also snapped a seven-game winless streak for the Rapids. Colorado had battled to three straight 1-1 draws coming into the match.
Salt Lake outscored Colorado 6-1 in the two previous matches between the clubs. RSL never recovered from early defensive lapses and played with only 10 men over the final 25 minutes.
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The Rapids wasted no time imposing their will on offense. Colorado scored a pair of goals within the first 10 minutes of the match. Rubio accounted for both strikes.
Rubio struck first in third minute with a snap header off a corner kick, giving the Rapids a quick 1-0 lead. He extended it to a 2-0 advantage 10 minutes later. Rubio settled a long ball and threaded it in from outside the top of the box to get the brace.
Salt Lake’s hopes to make any sort of a comeback were dashed in the 49th minute. Sam Vines blasted home his first career goal when he was left unmarked and latched onto the ball near the back of the 6-yard box. It gave Colorado a commanding three-goal lead.
Braian Galvan finished off a cross from Cole Bassett in the 55th minute for the Rapids’ fourth goal of the match. Bassett put the exclamation point on the match with a goal in the 88th minute.
RSL went down a man in the 64th minute. Douglas Martinez got sent off with a red card for violent conduct following a video review.
Colorado had a 16-9 edge on shots over Salt Lake. RSL put only one shot on frame.