SANDY, Utah (AP) — Joao Plata scored the first of Real Salt Lake’s four goals in a 13-minute span in a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids 5-1 on Friday night.
Salt Lake (13-6-10) swept the three-game series with Colorado (8-14-7) to earn the Rocky Mountain Cup trophy.
Salt Lake trailed 1-0, but responded with three goals in five minutes.
Plata sent a well-placed ball into the upper right corner in the 32nd minute off a backheel pass by Ned Grabavoy. Salt Lake added a corner kick goal a minute later and Chris Schuler cleaned up a free kick in the 37th. Real got an own goal by Colorado goalkeeper Joe Nasco in the 45th. In the second half, Carlos Salcedo capitalized on a failed clearance in the 63rd.
Colorado’s Jose Mari rolled in a shot from distance in the 21st minute, catching goalkeeper Nick Rimando off-guard. The Rapids’ Nick LaBrocca was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by MLS prior to the game.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
