MLS Colorado Rapids

#RSLvCOL MLS Match Preview

Published on June 5, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Matches with rivals Real Salt Lake often have an added edge to them. You just had to witness the flurry of cards shown in the preseason meeting in Tucson, during the Desert Diamond Cup.

Pride is certainly a motivating factor in chasing victory, but this Sunday's first of three matches in the 2015 Rocky Mountain Cup series is first and foremost about the points, as both teams find themselves at the wrong end of the standings.

These two sides march into battle, wounded by back-to-back losses. Colorado succumbed in Seattle, and were then dealt a body blow in the 2-1 home loss to Portland Timbers. On the same day, Salt Lake were losing by the same scoreline at Vancouver Whitecaps. Indeed, on the night that the Rapids were going down 1-0 at the Sounders, the team from Utah were suffering a similar reversal at LA Galaxy.

RSL has a hold of the Rocky Mountain Cup, having swept the series in 2014. They have never lost to the Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium, with the first meeting in Sandy coming exactly six years ago this weekend. History would suggest the Rapids face further disappointment in the home of their rivals. Then again, the Timbers had never won at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, until Jack Jewsbury re-wrote that particular chapter.

Rapids players are acutely aware that they fell short against the Timbers. And they also know that a first victory inside Rio Tinto would go some way to making amends.

THE OPPONENTS

Real Salt Lake lie ninth in the Western Conference, with 17 points from 14 games. They began the season with a five-match unbeaten stretch, before back-to-back losses, including a 4-0 defeat at New England Revolution. They leaked four goals again in May, when toppled 4-1 at Montreal Impact, during what was a gruelling month in which they played seven games. Four of the most recent five games have been on the road for RSL, but they now enjoy eight of their next nine MLS encounters at home.

PABLO MASTROENI SAYS

"I think it's (Rocky Mountain Cup) a great game. It's always been a great game. And I think it's a great opportunity to go there and really put forth a great performance. The guys have been chomping at the bit after our last game, to really get after it, and there's no better team to go up against than Salt Lake. We're going there with a mentality to win that game, and we've done that in every away game that we've played."

TEAM NEWS

Colorado remain without both Shane O'Neill and Dillon Serna, who are on international duty with the U.S. U-23s. The only injury concern surrounds Vicente Sanchez (hip), who was replaced by Dillon Powers at halftime of last Saturday's match against Portland.

Real Salt Lake will be minus Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando. They are in Europe with the USMNT. Jordan Allen (U.S. U-20) and Boyd Okwuonu (U.S. U-23) are also absent. Jamison Olave is back in contention, though, after serving a one-match suspension.

Referee: Kevin Stott, who is the last remaining active referee from the inaugural season in 1996, will be taking charge of his 267th MLS match.

Where to watch: ESPNews.

Where to listen: 1600 The Zone (1600 AM), Mile High Sports app and 1650AM Radio Luz (Spanish).

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 5, 2015


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