Rivalry between Rapids, RSL kicked up a notch

commerce city » The Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry has waned in recent years as the Rapids and Real Salt Lake slipped from relevance in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. But expect tensions to ramp back up Friday as the Rapids take on RSL in a nationally televised showdown in Sandy, Utah.

Only three points separate Colorado and RSL, which enter the weekend in second and third in the conference, respectively.

“This game has Western Conference playoff implications and also Supporters’ Shield implications,” Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said, the latter a reference to the award given the MLS team with the best regular-season record. “This game’s probably the biggest Rocky Mountain Cup that we’ve experienced in the last couple years.”

The Rapids’ supporters will head west toting the Rocky Mountain Cup, the traveling trophy awarded annually to the fans of the winner of the season series. Hav-

ing split the first two games this year by identical 1-0 scores, Colorado needs only a tie to take the trophy back.

Colorado, however, is 07-4 in 11 matches since 2009 in Salt Lake.

“Records are meant to fall,” Mastroeni said. “We’ll put forth a performance that is worthy of a result there.”

Inside Colorado’s locker room, the Rapids have put an emphasis on winning the Rocky Mountain Cup, knowing that, in addition to earning points, it could provide an emotional jolt.

“Anytime you can win a trophy, lift a cup, have your name put on it, it means something for the team, it’s exciting for the team,” Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “Particularly at this stage in the season, it’ll boost us heading into that final little push that we have going into the playoffs.”

The Rapids are at a critical point in their season as they enter their first of three consecutive road games — two of which are against Western Conference foes. Leading MLS in points per game (1.79), Colorado has a legitimate shot at winning the Supporters’ Shield, but taking points on the road will be crucial.

“I don’t look at it like, take five (points) out of the next three (games). I don’t ever do that,” Mastroeni said. “I want nine (points). We want three (points) against Salt Lake and then we’ll go from there.”

The Rapids will need to improve their goal scoring, which has faded. Colorado has just eight goals in its last nine league games, going 2-1-6 over that span.

Rapids center forward Kevin Doyle said teams have started to play Colorado differently — showing more respect, putting more defenders behind the ball and playing the ball long rather than out of the back, especially at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where Colorado is unbeaten this year.

“Away from home, it doesn’t seem to be the case as much,” Doyle said. “They’re in their own stadium, they have to come out and try to play and try to win their home games.”

Doyle said as the season winds down and teams get more desperate for wins, they will be pressured to open up and send more men forward against the Rapids.

“Our first thought is always to not concede and to try to win by winning 1-0 or 2-1,” Doyle said. “It’s always going to be a close game the way we play, and that’s got us where we are. That’s not a negative, it’s just our style of play.”