Big Game, Big Cause – Colorado Rapids host RSL in Rocky Mountain Cup Doubleheader

COMMERCE CITY — The Rocky Mountain Cup run begins in Commerce City, as the Rapids will take on Real Salt Lake for the first of two times in 2025. Colorado will try to retain the Rocky Mountain Cup after they had won it last season for the first time since 2020. The Colorado Rapids United Team will also be attempting to retain their Rocky Mountain Cup after the match, as they beat RSL’s Unified Team last season as well. Coming off a brutal 2-0 loss to San Diego FC, where the scoreline was flattering to the ‘Pids, Colorado will look to turn around their recent run of form against that team from Utah. Let’s take a look at the matchup.

When: Saturday, May 17 @ 7:30 p.m. MST

Where: DICK’s Sporting Goods Park

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Big Game, Big Cause

This weekend’s match will be a doubleheader, as the Rapids Unified team will face RSL’s Unified Team after the match. The Unified squad is an excellent initiative with Special Olympics Colorado to field a team of players between the ages of 16 and 25. They receive the opportunity to be coached by Rapids players and coaches, and we get to see their skills on the field during their season.

The Rapids, in partnership with Special Olympics Colorado, are launching “Big Game, Big Cause” in an effort to sell out the stadium for the Unified match. Every ticket purchased for the match on May 17 will have $5 donated back to Special Olympics Colorado. If you stay after the match and watch the Unfied game, you will have the opportunity to win team-signed jerseys, U.S. Women’s National Team tickets, and much more.

“As we move into the 12th year of fielding a Rapids Unified team in conjunction with the Rapids, Special Olympics Colorado has seen the immense value of this partnership. The opportunity to compete on the first team pitch, wear the first team kits, and more importantly, make lifelong friends, all while competing in the sport they love, has been tremendous for our athletes and partners alike. We hope to see the fans pack the stadium for our Rocky Mountain Cup match and cheer on a team that has worked hard to kick off the season strong,” said Molly Underly, Rapids Unified Head Coach.

If you can’t make the match, the Rapids will have a livestream on the club’s YouTube channel. But if you are at the game, please consider staying after to watch our Rapids Unified team play for their Rocky Mountain Cup. It is always a fun time, and you can even win some cool prizes just for staying!

Dominated in First Trip to San Diego:

The Rapids had their first midweek match of the season, going away to San Diego in a game they would most likely want to forget and move past. It was a rotated lineup from Chris Armas, with six changes to the starting eleven that lost 2-0 to San Jose. We saw the first start from Keegan Rosenberry in over a month, but despite a very solid performance from the captain, the Rapids could not take hold of the game.

From the first whistle, it was an uphill battle for Colorado. Some early mistakes in the back and a lack of possession gave San Diego some great chances, and a lot of them. They ended the first half with 15 shots, five on target, and an expected goal value of 1.86. One of those chances had to go in for the hosts, and it came on a set piece. The initial ball into the box wasn’t cleared, and was flicked on to a wide-open Chris McVey. Some dodgy marking from Ian Murphy left the center back alone in the sex yard box, and he made no mistake punishing the Rapids.

It did not get better for Colorado in the second half. Those 13 more shots from the hosts made sure to kick the Rapids when they were down, as two of those shots came from the play that led to San Diego’s second. Anders Dreyer shot one off the post, which rebounded to him for an easy finish with Sam Vines caught sleeping on the play. It did not get better as Ted Ku-DiPietro crossed the ball in, which hit off Willy Kumado’s hand in the box. Dos Santos saved the ensuing penalty by Djordje Mihailović, and the Rapids were unable to create a better chance.

They were on the wrong end of another 2-0 scoreline to a team from California, and are on the wrong end of a five-game slide down the Western Conference. The Rapids will have to put this one behind them quickly with RSL coming to town for a quick turnaround.

Lineup Prediction:

Steffen / Cannon, Awaziem, Maxsø, Travis / C. Bassett, Larraz, Atencio / Mihailović (C), Yapi, Cabral

Rafa Navarro will be unavailable for RSL due to his lingering ankle injury—a massive blow for the Rapids’ attack that looked to be lost without him. Zack Steffen is also questionable due to the oblique injury he picked up in San Diego, but I don’t see him not starting because of it. If he can’t go, however, we could see the return of Adam Beaudry or Nico Hansen in goal for the Rapids, depending on Beaudry’s fitness. Keeper will be the biggest concern on Saturday if Steffen can’t go.

Without Rafa, the Rapids could look to change away from their 4-2-2-2 formation, as they only have one natural striker fit and available, Darren Yapi. Yapi has thrived under a two-striker system, but could see some playing time as the lone number nine. I could see the team going into Saturday with a winger filling in for Navarro in the 4-2-2-2, but I expect to see some change in formation for the Rapids. I’ve gone for a 4-3-3, but a 4-2-3-1 is not off the table. The Rapids have shown flashes in the 4-2-2-2, but with one win in their last six games with it, it might be time for a change, and this might be the time to do it.

RSL has a much more extensive list of injuries than the Rapids. With three guys out and four more questionable, it will be interesting to see who can and will go on Saturday. Brayan Vera would be a huge miss for RSL if he cannot go with his concussion. Despite all the injuries from RSL, I would expect to see close to, if not full, preferred starting eleven from them. Even with all their injuries.

A Much Changed Start for a Much Changed RSL Side:

RSL joined the Rapids among the top four in the Western Conference for most of 2024 but managed to stay in the top four as the Rapids fell to 7th place by the end of the year. It is a more difficult start for both of these teams, with the Rapids sitting in the last playoff spot in 9th and RSL in 11th. While the Rapids have had a form slip and have recently fallen to 9th, RSL has stayed in a non-playoff spot for much of the season.

The signs of RSL’s recent dip in form have a similar story to the Rapids, with star winger Andreas Gomez being sold midway through the 2024 season, similarly to Moïse Bombito for the Rapids. RSL has yet to replace Gomez, as Diogo Goncalves has struggled to adjust to MLS. Dominik Marczuk had also been brought in to try and replace Gomez’s production out wide, but has struggled as well since joining.

Chicho Arango was a significant outgoing transfer after the striker asked to leave Utah after a stellar 2024 season. RSL has swung and missed on a few strikers since Chicho’s departure, with Ariath Piol having as many red cards as goals up top. They have since looked within the league for reinforcements, and more specifically at Sporting KC, bringing in Willy Agada and Johnny Russell from the Western Conference foes. It will be interesting to see how those two gel in Utah.

On the bright side for RSL, Diego Luna is having a sensational start to the season. The former El Paso Locomotive player has seven goals on the year, and continues to be a bright spot in an RSL side that doesn’t have many in 2025. No matter the form for RSL, the Rapids will have to turn the tide of recent results against RSL. While the Rocky Mountain Cup is in Colorado, history favors the team from Utah in these matchups. It won’t take long for the all-time record between the teams to be brought up on matchday.

Prediction: A Rafa-less Colorado attack cannot keep up with RSL, and the team from Utah takes a 2-1 win into the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Main Photo Credit: Colorado Rapids

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