The 2018 Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided this weekend in Colorado, here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. Real Salt Lake is coming off a dramatic road win against western conference opponent Houston Dynamo last weekend. Despite looking the stronger team, RSL trailed by a goal late in the match but Albert Rusnak became the first player in MLS history to score match-tying and match-winning goals in stoppage time, giving RSL three points on the road and earning Rusnak Goal of the Week honors.
Jefferson Savarino and Albert Rusnak made MLS Team of the Week while Andrew Putna made Team of the Week bench. Rusnak’s two goals brought him up to 7 goals and 6 assists, Joao Plata has 7 goals and 4 assists, Damir Kreilach has 6 goals and 6 assists, Corey Baird has 5 goals and 2 assists, Luis Silva has 5 goals, and Jefferson Savarino has 3 goals and 7 assists.
2. With the win last weekend, Real Salt Lake moved into 4th place in the west and improved their road record to 2-9-2. Saturday’s match will be the third and final 2018 meeting between RSL and Colorado in the regular season and the only in Colorado. RSL is 18-13-11 all-time against the Rapids, 5-10-5 at Colorado, and can still claim a third consecutive Rocky Mountain Cup with a 3-0 loss.
Pablo Ruiz picked up a knee injury in Houston and Nick Rimando remains questionable after his hamstring injury in LA:
OUT: Tony Beltran (knee 10/15/17), Jordan Allen (knee 6/16/17), Demar Phillips (ankle 4/7/18), Alex Horwath (achilles 4/18/18), Luke Mulholland (back 5/2/18), Ricky Lopez-Espin (knee 6/13/18), David Horst (achilles 6/26/18), Connor Sparrow (knee 7/2/18).
QUESTIONABLE: Marcelo Silva (ankle 8/14/18), Nick Rimando (hamstring 8/15/18).
3. The Colorado Rapids are 5-5-3 at home this season and haven’t lost at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since July 4th. With recent addition Kellyn Acosta, who has 2 goals and 2 assists in just five matches since July 23, The Rapids have seen an uptick in form compared to their start to the season. Dominique Badji leads Colorado with 7 goals and 2 assists, Edgar Castillo has 3 goals and 5 assists, Tommy Smith has 3 goals and 3 assists, and Joe Mason has 3 goals. Coming off a 2-0 loss at LAFC, Colorado are ready to get back on track and get a third consecutive win at home.
Colorado currently occupy 11th place in the west with a record of 6-13-6 and 24 points.
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids begins on Saturday, August 25th at 6 PM with Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne, kick-off with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly at 7 PM.
