RSL Rapids Preview: Rocky Mountain Cup on the Line

SANDY – The 53rd edition of the Rocky Mountain Cup will see the Colorado Rapids head to the neighboring state of Utah to take on Real Salt Lake. Having lost the previous meeting between the two. The Rapids will need to avoid defeat to have a chance to win the 2023 Rocky Mountain Cup. The third and final matchup set for October 21st (also the regular season finale). 

When: September 2nd @ 7:30 pm MDT

Where: America First Field, Sandy, Utah

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Match Preview

Only nine games remain in the 2023 MLS regular season, and the Rapids will have to pick up some points if they want to avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon award. Currently on 19 points, Colorado is now the sole occupant of the bottom spot in MLS. 

They were previously tied with Toronto FC, but a new coaching hire saw Toronto win their first game since May 27, lifting them out of the Wooden Spoon position.

A loss for the Rapids would seal the Rocky Mountain Cup for Real Salt Lake for the third year in a row. A draw would mean that Colorado would need to win by two or more goals when the two sides meet again on the last day of the regular season. 

Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake H2H

The rivalry has not been kind to Colorado historically or in recent years, having lost 16 of the past 25 MLS encounters against Real. The Rapids last victory dates back to the 2021 season, when a Mark-Anthony Kaye winner sealed a 2-1 comeback at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park.

RSL has won the RMC 13 times to Colorado’s five, and leads the series with 25 wins compared to Colorado’s 15.

This will be the third of four matchups against RSL in 2023, as the Rapids also faced Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in May, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at home. 

A Quartet of Danger

RSL’s defense has been a cause for concern in 2023, allowing 39 goals, a mark good for the 5th most across the entire league. While their attacking output is nothing to write home about, it is worth noting that RSL has scored 20 more goals than the Rapids this season. 

Forward Cristian Arango is certainly RSL’s talisman up top and he will be looking to add onto his two goals and two assists since joining from Liga MX’s Pachuca in June. MLS fans will be well acquainted with the 28-year-old Colombian, as his exploits in the black and gold colors of LAFC were crucial in helping them dominate the league in 2022. In 58 games for LAFC, Arango scored 35 goals. The DP is a club record transfer for RSL, costing a reported $6 million, and will be a stern test to pass for the Burgundy Boys.

The Rapids should also be wary of Jefferson Savarino, Pablo Ruiz and Danny Musovski, all of whom found found the back of the net against Colorado in 2023. That trio has directly contributed to nine or more goals each this season.

Recent Form

Real Salt Lake enjoyed a successful summer, having gone unbeaten in nine league matches, before their streak was snapped in a surprising 3-0 defeat at home to the Houston Dynamo. Their last game saw them fall 2-1 in Portland to the struggling Timbers, and perhaps if Colorado wasn’t in such bad form themselves, it might even be a good time to take on RSL. 

The Rapids are fresh off the heels of another dismaying performance: a 3-0 loss at Minnesota. This marked the fourth loss in a row across all competitions for Fraser’s men, and the seventh successive loss on the road in MLS.

Injuries Continue

The Rapids dropped the availability report late on Friday night. Diego Rubio is questionable again. Jonathan Lewis is back to being questionable as well. Keegan Rosenberry was a late scratch on Wednesday and is also in doubt. The attack could struggle again if Rubio cannot. The same could be said for the right side of the defense if Rosenberry does not start.

Future Implications

The Colorado Rapids have looked like a side that lacks identity and a clear vision for the future. Although the situation looks bleaker and bleaker with every game that passes by, a positive result in the Rocky Mountain Cup is a great way to find any sort of spark to carry into the remaining matches, and, hopefully, 2024. On the contrary, if another beatdown is incoming, it’s hard to envision that future entails Robin Fraser at the helm. 

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. If you want to support us, join our Patreon starting at $5/month. Also, we’re always looking for new talent to contribute to the site, develop, and give opportunities to. If you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer in any way, let us know.