Rapids Fall To Real Salt Lake 2-1

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Joao Plata scored his sixth goal of the season and Real Salt Lake remained undefeated with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the opening match of the Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry Saturday night.

RSL (6-0-5) hasn't dropped a game in its first 11 matches this season and is the only undefeated team in Major League Soccer.

Plata scored in the 23rd minute with a roller past goalkeeper Clint Irwin to the far post.

Javier Morales scored on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute to put RSL up 2-0. It was Morales' fourth goal.

Salt Lake was without starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando and captain Kyle Beckerman, who were among 30 players training at Stanford for a spot on the U.S. men's team for the World Cup this summer. Forward Alvaro Saborio was away with the Costa Rican national team.

The Rapids (4-4-3) avoided the shutout with defender Drew Moor's header into the corner in the 83rd minute.

Salt Lake is coming off a 5-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo last weekend, while the Rapids lost 3-1 at home to Chivas USA.

The Rocky Mountain Cup was created in 2005, Real Salt Lake's first season in MLS.

Last season the Rapids won the rivalry with a win and two draws. Real Salt Lake leads the all-time competition 6-3.

The home team has not lost in Rocky Mountain Cup play for the last two seasons.