It is exactly 12 years ago this weekend that Real Salt Lake defender Brian Dunseth launched himself at a Clint Mathis freekick and sent a diving header past Colorado Rapids’ goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
Dunseth’s dramatic goal, netted with nine minutes of the game remaining at Rice-Eccles Stadium, was the first scored at home by Real Salt Lake, secured a first win in Major League Soccer for the then-newcomers, and it came in a first-ever clash with their neighbors from across the Rockies. A rivalry was born.
The only surviving player from that first meeting in 2005 is midfielder Kyle Beckerman, though on that occasion he was sporting the colors of the Rapids.