Major League Soccer

Hernandez goal, saves by Cannon give Colorado 1-0 win over RSL.

DENVER (Friday, June 9, 2006) -- Striker Nicolas Hernandez scored early and goalkeeper Joe Cannon returned to action to make it stand up with his first shutout of the season, leading the Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 decision over streaking Real Salt Lake before 21,290 at a Major League Soccer match tonight at INVESCO Field.

Hernandez netted the game-winner on one of only two shots on goal registered by the Rapids, who outshot RSL 12-7, though Salt Lake managed five shots on target.

Salt Lake (3-6-2, 11 points) had been unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four outings after starting the season 0-5-1. In its short history, RSL, a 2005 expansion team, had twice won two straight matches, but otherwise had never gone without a defeat in two games in a row. Colorado (5-4-2, 17) pulled even with the Houston Dynamo (5-3-2) in second place in the Western Conference, both trailing FC Dallas (6-2-3) by four points.

Hernandez put away his second goal of the season following a turnover in the 16th minute. Hernandez took control and attempted to feed forward Jacob Peterson. Defender Nelson Akwari blocked the pass, but the ball returned to Hernandez who laced a shot from the top of the penalty area past goalkeeper Scott Garlick for a 1-0 advantage.

Cannon, who had not played since May 13 because of a strained groin, made five saves, including sprawling stops on RSL striker Jeff Cunningham in the 47th and 58th minutes.

"To be honest, that's the best I've felt all year long," Cannon said. "Even the first couple of games, I was nursing a couple of offseason injuries. The trainers and coaches did a good job with me. . . I had been frustrated, I just wanted to play. It's my identity."

Rapids midfielder Eric Denton came close to increasing his team's lead in the 52nd minute, hammering a shot off the left post.

"At the end, we would create some good shots, but we just kind of got nothing; the finishing wasn't there," Salt Lake coach John Ellinger said. "We had a couple of point blank shots and they went right to Joe (Cannon)."

Referee: Tim Weyland. Referee's assistants: Paul Scott, Jose Corro. Fourth official: Matt Grove. Time of game: 1:51 Attendnace: 12,920 at INVESCO Field in Denver Weather: Cloudy, 84 degrees.

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