Plata, Real Salt Lake capitalize on Rapids miscue, win 1-0
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) Joao Plata found an empty net late in the match to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 win over Colorado on Saturday night.
Javier Morales lofted a long feed from just behind midfield to a streaking Plata. Colorado defender Alex Sjoberg and goalkeeper Zac MacMath, who charged out of the box, got tangled up and Plata slipped behind them before tapping the winning goal into the back of the net in the 72nd minute.
Nick Rimando had five saves, including diving stop of a shot by Luis Solignac from just minutes before Plata's winner, for his first shutout of the season.
Real Salt Lake (3-0-2) moved within a point of MLS-leading Sporting KC.
Plata has four goals, tied for the most in MLS, and three assists this season.
Colorado (2-2-1), which has scored just three goals this season, had its three-game unbeaten streak snapped.
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