October 15, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Real Salt Lake News Release
HERRIMAN, Utah – Real Salt Lake will welcome Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids for the final installment of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Cup on Saturday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
The match will be broadcast live on KMYU and can be accessed locally via live stream on the KSL TV app. ESPN700 will carry the English radio broadcast and Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3, La Gran D 102.3 and KTUB 1600.
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Saturday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. MT
Records: Real Salt Lake (11-11-6, 39 points, 5th in West); Colorado Rapids (14-5-9, 51 points, 3rd in West)
Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a 24-15-11 record through 50 games against the Rapids, most recently dropping a narrow 2-1 result at the Rapids on August 21.
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The Road to Playoffs
Six games remain in the 2021 Major League Soccer regular season and RSL is currently sitting in fifth place, one spot out of a guaranteed home playoff match and seven points behind fourth-place Portland Timbers. Saturday’s opponent occupies the third spot in the Western Conference with 51 points, six points behind Seattle Sounders FC who currently lead the Western Conference. A win over Colorado on Saturday would further solidify RSL’s current standing in the West and distance itself from the 6th – 9th place teams chasing a higher playoff position.
This is Our House
RSL’s is currently on a six game win streak and a seven game unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto Stadium, dating back to July 21. Their home record of 8-2-4 is tied for the third best in the Western Conference, having accumulated 28 points through 14 home matches. Since opening Rio Tinto Stadium in 2009 the team has earned a 122-33-55 record in Sandy and has consistently been a dominant force at home. Including Saturday’s match, there are just three remaining home matches, against Colorado, San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers with nine crucial points on the line for playoff contention. In addition Salt City United, one of RSL’s oldest supporters group and crucial part of the team’s home dominance, will be in attendance to help spur on the team to victory.
Bringing the Cup Home
This year’s Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided by the result of Saturday’s match with RSL lifting the trophy with either a win or a draw based on RSL’s +2 goal differential following its previous two matches against the Rapids in 2021. Since the fan-generated competition’s inception in 2005, Real Salt Lake has won the trophy 11 times, compared to Colorado’s five. However, Colorado is currently in possession of the title having claimed it on goal differential last season. Real Salt Lake will look to win their 25th regular season match all-time over Colorado and subsequently lifting the trophy for the 12th time.
Connections: Real Salt Lake Interim Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni played for Colorado from 2002-2013 and coached the Rapids from 2014-2017. In July his former club retired his number, making him the first individual to receive the honor for the Rapids. As a player he led the team to the 2010 MLS Cup and appeared in more than 200 matches. As a coach he led the team to its best regular season record in 2016, finishing the year second in voting for the MLS Coach of the Year award. Additionally, Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser served as an assistant coach for RSL from 2007-2011, during which the won the MLS Cup.
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