Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids
August 25, 2018; Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
8:00 p.m. MT; KMYU, KSL TV App, KSL.com
RSL (11-10-5, 38 points); COL (6-13-6, 24 points)
Player to Watch – Kellyn Acosta made the move from FC Dallas to Colorado on July 23 and was a quick mix with his new teammates. Already through five matches, he has two goals and two assists with the Rapids. Those numbers are good for a player in his position, particularly when considering that his greatest strengths on the field aren’t in scoring or assisting goals.
Matchup to Watch – Edgar Castillo vs. Brooks Lennon. Colorado’s left back and RSL’s right back both have a propensity for getting involved in the attack. In the last meeting, Castillo scored the equalizer to keep the Rapids in the chase for this year’s Rocky Mountain Cup. It was no rarity, either, as he has three goals and five assists this season. To his credit, Lennon has four assists in his first season as a right back.
All-Time Record – Real Salt Lake is 18-13-11 against Colorado and has lifted the Rocky Mountain Cup in nine of the 13 seasons the two teams have contested the supporter-created trophy. That stretch includes hoisting the cup in nine of the last 11 years. A win or draw would clinch the trophy again, as would a loss by three goals or less.
Last 5 Head-to-Head – RSL is 3-1-1 in the last five matches, dating back to the start of last season. In that time, RSL holds an 11-5 scoring lead. This season, the club went 1-0-1 with both matches coming at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Last 5 Overall – Colorado is 2-2-1 in the last five matches and 2-0-1 in the last three home matches. An eight-game losing streak from April 21-June 9 skews the club’s record and cannot be ignored, but the team has been much better (4-4-4) in the 12 matches since.
