IN SHORT - After playing a fairly good first half, RSL failed to capitalize on a number of opportunities late in the game.

KEY STAT - RSL had 17 shot attempts and seven shots on goal, but was unable to find the net all night.

KEY MOMENT - Former RSL player Clint Mathis gave the game-winning assist to Jacob Peterson for the game's only score.

The game doesn't mean anything to their Major League Soccer standings. But still, the Real Salt Lake players insisted that there was something to play for, like extra money for the team and a new trophy to show off.

And RSL had the momentum, coming off arguably the biggest upset in the MLS this year.

But, somehow, RSL managed to go back to its old disappointing ways. That was evident in Wednesday night's 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup at Rice-Eccles Stadium in front of 4,546 fans.

“I don't know what it is,” midfielder Chris Klein said. “I don't think it was fatigue. I'm not sure.”

His coach, John Ellinger, was puzzled, too. He hoped his team would continue its winning ways after upsetting D.C. United four nights earlier.

“Before the game, it was OK,” he said about the team's focus going into the Cup game. “I don't know what it is now.”

His uncertainty comes from watching his team play well in the first half and then later having the game slip away. In the first half, RSL was in control for the most part, outshooting the Rapids 10-3 - and Colorado had one shot on goal while RSL managed three.

“I think we did play very well,” team captain and striker Jason Kreis said about the first half. “I think the stats proved it. I thought we were breaking them down. But at the end of the day, you need to finish up those chances.”

But, on the other hand, the Rapids didn't need that many chances to capitalize, thanks in part to a game-winning assist by former RSL player Clint Mathis.

In the 61st minute, Mathis got a pass along the right sideline, then kicked the ball back with his heel to a running Jacob Peterson, who slammed it past goalkeeper Jay Nolly's stretching arms for the game's only goal.

Even with the lead, Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo was worried, scared of an RSL comeback.

“The first half was a little shaky,” he said. “We had to get used to the field. We put a lot of strings of passes together in the second half. We had some good chances to finish the game, and we didn't. We allowed them to think they could make another miracle from behind.”

But, of course, there was no miracle this time.

RSL ended with 17 shots and seven shots on goal, with some of them coming late in the game. Joey Worthen and Kreis had good looks in the 91st and 94th minutes, respectively. But Matt Jordan didn't allow it, stopping both for his sixth and seventh saves of the game.

All those missed opportunities was enough to make Ellinger question where the players' heads are, especially now that the All-Star break has officially started before the regular season comes back into play next Wednesday against the same team that knocked them

out of the Cup.

“I thought I was back at my youth club again,” he said.