This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Colorado Rapids' defense looked unsolvable for 71 minutes of Real Salt Lake's Rocky Mountain Cup battle Saturday night.

But RSL's rivals' biggest strength turned into its biggest weakness for the only minute Joao Plata needed.

RSL took a 1-0 victory after Rapids defender Axel Sjoberg badly bungled the ball over his goalkeeper Zac MacMath's head. Plata pounced on the mistake, tapping it in for the lead and win.

The Rapids were cohesive and frustrating for the first half, maintaining their shape and clogging the middle of the field at every opportunity.

Juan Manuel "Burrito" Martinez was RSL's catalyst early on, taking on 60-yard passes and scores of defenders in the box to try to open the Rapids up.

He feinted through a score of defenders to serve the ball to Yura Movsisyan in the 21st minute, but the forward couldn't get enough on the shot that was easily gathered up by the opposing goalkeeper.

Colorado was content to maintain possession and clog the middle of the field, but had two huge chances as time wound down in the first half.

The first came from midfielder Shkelzen Gashi who found himself in front of a wide open net with a scrambling Nick Rimando off to the side. Gashi fired, but RSL center back Aaron Maund ricocheted the shot out of harm's way with a strong header.

Forward Luis Solignac had another chance one-on-one two minutes later, but Rimando parried his shot with a sweeping save.

After the break, Kyle Beckerman gave RSL its best chance of the night, springing Luke Mulholland into the box. Mulholland shot across the face of goal, but the ball sailed just wide.

Javier Morales returned to action from broken ribs as a substitute for Mulholland in the 64th minute, making quick work of Colorado's defense before sailing a shot wide of goal.

Movsisyan seemed to have made it 2-0 with an 83rd minute goal off the side of his foot, but the referee whistled it offside. Movsisyan was then booked for dissent after arguing the call.

RSL held the Colorado attack quiet for the entire second half, the Rapids managing only two shots on goal.

Plata is now up to four goals and three assists in 2016 out of RSL's nine total scores, among the league leaders in both categories.

Colorado's winless streak continues at Rio Tinto, where the Rapids haven't won a game since the stadium opened in 2008.

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith