Movsisyan scores brace as Real Salt Lake beats Rapids 2-1

SANDY, Utah (AP) - Yura Movsisyan scored two goals and Real Salt Lake rallied to beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 despite missing two second-half penalty kicks Friday.

Shkelzen Gashi pounced on a rebound to score the opener for Colorado after only five minutes, before Movsisyan equalized in the 39th minute after a sustained period of possession by Real Salt Lake.

Movsisyan scored the winner just after half-time with a long strike from outside the box that found the top-right corner of the net.

However, Movsisyan missed his chance of a hat-trick in the 57th minute when he put a penalty kick wide and then Colorado keeper Tim Howard made a brilliant save on Javier Morales' penalty kick attempt in the 83rd minute.

Real Salt Lake's eighth home win of the season moved it level with the Rapids for second in the Western Conference. Both teams have 43 points, two behind Dallas, but Colorado, which has only lost twice in the last 20 games, has two games in hand.