By Mike Chambers
Denver Post Staff Writer
Goaltender Jay Nolly gave expansion Real Salt Lake a real chance to win its first Major League Soccer road game of the year Saturday night. But the Rapids wouldn’t allow it, dominating the second half to win 2-1 before an announced crowd of 14,052 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Jeff Cunningham came off the bench in the 64th minute and scored his team-leading 12th goal in the 86th minute to break a 1-1 tie. Cunningham has not started the past two games, both Colorado wins.
“We’re better with Jeff on the field, but at the same time we need to understand that we have 28 players on our roster and everybody needs to step in and do the job,” coach Fernando Clavijo said.
The win lifted the Rapids a game within .500 and closer to the No. 3 seed for the Western Conference playoffs. Colorado (12-13-4, 40 points) clinched a playoff berth last week and can climb as high as the No. 2 seed with three remaining regular- season games.
They play Chivas USA on Wednesday at home and visit FC Dallas on Saturday. They finish the season Oct. 12 at Salt Lake.
Real Salt Lake, 0-14-1 on the road, fell to 5-20-4. The first-year club was outshot 4-2 in the second half.
“It was a hard game tonight, like I thought it was going to be,” Clavijo said. “You have a team that’s out of the playoffs and a lot of players playing for their jobs. It doesn’t make it easier for us.”
Dedi Ben-Dayan and Jean Philippe Peguero had a hand in both Colorado goals. Cunningham’s winner came after Ben-Dayan started a give-and-go with Peguero from the left wing. Ben- Dayan found Cunningham in front of the net, and Cunningham tapped it in from the doorstep.
“Peguero and Dedi played it very well, combining very well together,” Cunningham said. “I got a fortunate goal tonight by being in the right place at the right time. Dedi played a great ball, and all I had to do was redirect it into the net.”
Real Salt Lake scored first for just the fourth time, but for the first time it didn’t lead to a victory. In the 14th minute, forward Clint Mathis tapped in a long cross from Robert Scarlett.
The Rapids answered in the 38th minute with Ben-Dayan’s third goal of the season in as many games. The midfielder sneaked into the box while Peguero made a nice effort to break free out of the corner. Peguero tapped it back to Ben- Dayan, who crushed the ball inside the far post from about 10 yards.
Real Salt Lake 1 0 – 1
Colorado 1 1 – 2
First half – 1, Real Salt Lake, Mathis 3 (Scarlett, Cabrera), 14th minute. 2, Colorado, Ben-Dayan 3 (Peguero), 39th.
Second half – 3, Colorado, Cunningham 12 (Ben-Dayan, Peguero), 86th.
Goalies – Real Salt Lake, Nolly; Colorado, Foss.
A – 14,052 (27,000).
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
