Real Salt Lake Vs Colorado Rapids: 3 things we learned – Red card disaster

COMMERCE CITY, CO - AUGUST 25: Fans celebrate with the Rocky Mountain Cup trophy at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on August 25, 2018 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) ***Local Caption***
COMMERCE CITY, CO - AUGUST 25: Fans celebrate with the Rocky Mountain Cup trophy at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on August 25, 2018 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) ***Local Caption*** /
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2. Savarino stars in victory

Although the red cards were one of the main storylines from the match, you can’t take away from what Jefferson Savarino did on the night. His two goals and one assist paved the way for RSL’s victory.

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He took advantage of the holes in the defense and was clinical in his finishing. The first goal was a lovely opportunistic strike, pulling a loose ball away from the nearest defender with a brilliant first touch before slamming the shot through the helpless hand of Tim Howard with the second.

His second goal, a top-shelf strike in the 58th minute, has to be one of the goals of the week. Receiving the ball in the middle of the pitch with space to drive into, no defender comes to close him down as he wanders his way to the edge of the penalty area, and so Savarino simply curls a beautiful right-footed effort around Tommy Smith and into the top corner.

His assist was similarly clever play, pulling down a cross to the far post for Corey Baird to bring under his control and finish. This was an excellent attacking display by Real Salt Lake and Savarino was at the heart of it.