Commerce City, CO- The role of spoiler might often be a bit overstated when it comes to sports but make no mistake about it: beating your chief rival to spoil their playoff aspirations is a very real and very pleasant experience. While the Colorado Rapids season may have been over for weeks their supporters can take a bit of solace in that their side’s efforts on Sunday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may have doomed Real Salt Lake’s chances as well. Thanks to a goal from Josh Gatt in the third minute the Rapids earned a tough 1-0 win in their penultimate match against RSL.
So with their loss and the San Jose Earthquakes earning a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps, The Cobalt and Claret (12-15-6, 42 points) find themselves a point behind both the Quakes (12-14-7, 43 points) and FC Dallas (10-10-13, 43 points) with a match to play. RSL will finish off their 2017 regular season campaign with a home match against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (4PM EST/1pm PST).
As for Colorado the win extended their unbeaten run to three matches (2-0-1, 7 points) a positive sign after a rather disappointing season. They will wrap up their 2017 season with another chance to disrupt the MLS Cup Playoffs when they travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders (4pm EST/1 PM PST).
On hand to cover the match was Prost Amerika photographer Corbin Elliott. You can check out some of his shots from the match below and his full gallery from the Rapids season on SmugMug.
Colorado Rapids
Real Salt Lake
