Twitter Facebook copy-url COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids (3-12-10, 19 pts) see Real Salt Lake (10-9-7, 37 pts) at America First Arena this Saturday, Sept. 2, for the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup (7:30 p.m. MT; Apple TV-- MLS Period Pass, Elevation Sports Radio 92.5 FM). Initial opposed in 2005, the Rocky Hill Cup is a supporter-driven prize awarded to the victor of the regular season series between both regional rivals, as determined by a bipartisan committee of advocates from both groups. This season's victor will certainly be crowned based upon total factors earned from the collection. If the teams are linked in points following their 3 regular-season competitions in 2023, the tiebreaker will certainly be overall objectives scored across the series. If the groups are still tied afterwards, the existing owner of the Cup, Real Salt Lake, will keep it. "It's a large thing for us. It's a large thing for the club. It's a large point for our advocates, " Rapids head coach Robin Fraser stated ahead of Saturday's game. "We saw it a number of years ago when we had shed the first game 4-1 and wound up winning 5-0 there and also won the Rocky Mountain Mug. Probably prior to that video game, I was almost, 'We need to win video games. We need to reach the playoffs. We need to implement. We require to improve.' But when I saw the response to that, and also the reaction to winning the Rocky Mountain Cup, it's been of the utmost relevance since. So we were definitely exceptionally let down to go down the video game in your home this year as well as we seem like we have a large mountain to climb offered the high quality of their group, but it's a difficulty that we not just understand exists but we have to embrace." The Rapids go into Saturday's suit complying with a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United FC when driving midweek. A solid begin in ownership and chances was reversed 18 minutes right into the match after the Rapids acknowledged a fine that Emanuel Reynoso converted to place Minnesota ahead early. The Loons then added two more objectives in the first half to put the game unreachable. "Another let down feeling coming out of this video game, primarily due to the fact that in the very first fifty percent, we actually had some great minutes, however our errors truly hidden us early, " said Fraser adhering to the loss on Wednesday." [I] n the 2nd half, we once more showed a fair bit of willpower. We saw some actually great in advance that was able to create some turn overs, which led to opportunities for us. And probably the biggest message to the team is the mentality. It needs to be there initially. As well as in a season that's gone the method this one has actually gone, we definitely consider brilliant areas as potential for the next game. Certainly, what we saw tonight-- the work out of [Rapids midfielder] Sidnei [Tavares], the work out of [Rapids onward] Rafa [Navarro]-- excellent to get [Rapids midfielder] Cole [Bassett] back. so, as frustrating as it is, we seem like there declare that we can draw from it." Real Salt Lake head right into the Rocky Hill encounter one of the most skilled offenses in the organization this period, ranking leading two in MLS in overall shots (second), shots on target (very first) as well as assists (linked for second), while placing tenth for a lot of objectives racked up in the league with 36. Nevertheless, the club has lost its last four games across all competitors. After qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2023 Leagues Cup as well as advancing to the quarterfinals, RSL was removed from the competition by LAFC in a 4-0 loss. Salt Lake then saw their 2023 Lamar Quest united state Open Cup run finish two weeks later on by Houston Dynamo FC in a 3-1 semifinal loss prior to enduring a 3-0 defeat to the Texan side in their resumption of organization play last weekend. The touch advanced Wednesday versus the Portland Timbers, losing 2-1 in their journey to the Pacific Northwest. Salt Lake onward Jefferson Savarino leads the group with six goals and also is linked second on the group with 5 aids this season, while onward Danny Musovski has actually also tacked on five objectives and 4 assists in league play. Saturday's suit will certainly be the secondly of a three suits in the local collection this period. The 2 sides first satisfied this year on May 20 in Colorado, causing a 3-2 win for RSL. The Rapids fell under an early deficiency in the very first fifty percent with Salt Lake scoring twice within the first 20 mins. However, Rapids protector Danny Wilson racked up a header to bring the deficit to one before RSL racked up a 3rd objective right before halftime. Midway via the second fifty percent, Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar racked up a 2nd objective for the team, however the team was unable to complete the comeback. Abubakar's goal noted his third consecutive objective versus RSL after scoring tboth of the equalizing goals in the 2022 matches. Colorado's loss in the initial leg of the series this season means a defeat on Saturday would certainly provide RSL the 2023 Rocky Mountain Mug, but a draw or win will certainly keep the Rapids in the running for the trophy. "It's undoubtedly one of the biggest competitions in the organization, " Rapids protector Andrew Gutman said. "There's a prize at stake, so that's something right there. To play for a prize, to be able to win something this year, provided [the means] the season's gone, is substantial. For me directly, you know, I have actually played in different rivalries. I have actually played in the New york city rivalry. I assume that is among the most significant ones in the league. So you need to go right into that [recognizing] that it's going to be a dogfight, that you're going to need to provide whatever you can. And you recognize so for me, personally, I'm going to attempt to inspire myself and encourage the group that no matter what's taking place in the season, this is mosting likely to be just one of the largest games of the year and we require to enter there recognizing it's going to be a dogfight as well as be up for the battle." The Rapids and also RSL have actually dealt with each other 54 times in the routine season with the Utah side having a benefit in the collection (26-25-12, W-L-D). Colorado has actually struggled on the roadway versus their Rocky Hill rival, winning just four of 27 matches played in Salt Lake (4-16-7). Their last roadway win in Utah happened in 2020 when the Rapids won 5-0 in Rio Tinto Stadium, the largest margin of success in the collection for Colorado. Several acquainted faces across the rivalry will certainly increase the intensity of Saturday's clash. Salt Lake head trainer and Rapids club icon Pablo Mastroeni will certainly be dealing with Colorado for the 3rd time as a head instructor. The former U.S. Male's National Group stalwart spent 12 seasons as a player with Colorado (2002-2013) and also holds the club record for all-time appearances (225) and also video games begun (217 ). Mastroeni captained the Rapids to its initial MLS Cup in 2010. Four years later on, he was appointed Rapids head trainer as well as helped the club reach the 2016 Western Conference Final while uploading a then-club record 58 factors in the routine season. Meanwhile https://www.portlandtimberstee.com/Julian-Bravo-T-Shirt, Rapids head train Robin Fraser is familiar with RSL, either, having made his training debut as an assistant train for Real Salt Lake in 2007 as well as later on winning the 2009 MLS Cup with the side.