Recap: Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado

By Sports Network

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake improved to 7-0-5 at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday night with a 2-0 win over Major League Soccer Western Conference rival Colorado Rapids.

Fabian Espindola scored both goals on each side of the half, Javier Morales tallied his team-leading ninth and 10th assists and goalkeeper Nick Rimando earned his eighth clean sheet of the season to lead the hosts to victory.

Not only did RSL snap on two-game losing streak with the victory, it moved with two points of Western table leading Houston, which hosts the Chicago Fire on Sunday.

With the loss, the Rapids drop their third in the last four games and league- leading 12 fixture of the season while being just two points up on San Jose for the worst record in MLS with an extra game played.

The home side took the early lead 23 minutes in when Morales played a long- ball into the left side of the Rapids' penalty area to Andy Williams, who back-heeled to Espindola, one-time. Espindola then fired a left-footed laser past Rapids goalkeeper Preston Burpo for his fourth goal of the season.

About 10 minutes after the break Espindola looked like he scored his second of the game when he headed home a Will Johnson rebound, but referee Baldomero Toledo ruled offside, leaving the score at 1-0.

But just before the hour mark, Espindola was able to record the brace when he took a long ball from Morales in the box and chipped a shot over Burpo, who was caught out of position on the play.

The season series is now tied at one, with both teams earning 2-0 victories at their respective home stadiums. The Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided when the clubs meet for the third and final time this season on Oct. 25 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids (7-12-3) will aim to rebound when they travel to FC Dallas on Thursday for their next league fixture while RSL (8-8-6) will aim to gain more ground on the Dynamo when they play at Los Angeles two days later.