SANDY, Utah (Saturday, October 14, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (12-14-6, 42 points, West #7) continues its 2017 MLS Cup “Playoff Push” with 5:30 p.m. MT Sunday afternoon kickoff in suburban Denver against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids. WATCH the game LIVE on KMYU (2.2. air, 12 satellite, 643 Comcast HD) with Brian Dunseth and David James on the call, or LISTEN with Bill Riley and Jay Nolly on ESPN700 AM.
Unbeaten in 11 of its last 13 overall since an early July road in win Southern California, RSL improved to 12-11-4 overall in its new era under Head Coach Mike Petke with a stunning and dramatic 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy two weeks ago. RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman’s left-footed laser in the 95th minute earned a point for 10-man RSL, which suffered the expulsion of DF Marcelo Silva in the game’s 15th minute, falling behind 0-1 shortly thereafter.
Returning this week from international duty are Slovakian playmaker Albert Rusnák – who has 7 goals and 13 assists this season, as well as Ecuadoran FW Joao Plata and U.S. goalkeeper Nick Rimando, each of whom departed after the 1-1 draw at LA on Sept. 30 for the FIFA international window. Venezuelan FW Jefferson Savarino suffered an ankle injury against the Galaxy and has remained in Utah for medical treatment.
Sunday’s meeting with the Rapids is the third of the year between the clubs, as RSL won 2-1 at Colorado back on April 15, a late goal from FW Brooks Lennon earning the full three points in a come-from-behind win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. RSL secured its ninth Rocky Mountain Cup in the last 11 years with a dominant 4-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium in August, Lennon and Plata adding goals on either side of a two-goal “brace” from FW Luis Silva.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake @ Colorado Rapids – Sun., October 15, 2017
- Coverage Begins: 5:00 p.m. MT
- Local TV: KMYU – David James and Brian Dunseth
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (4:30 p.m. MT) – Bill Riley & Jay Nolly
w/ Jeremy Horton & Spencer Warne (pre-/post-game)
- Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM / 1600 AM – Nelson Moran & Fernando Hortal
- Online: The @RSLmatchday Twitter feed provides updates
Game Notes for Sunday’s RSL @ Colorado game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Sunday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids is available HERE.
The club’s recent 2-0 home win over Seattle improved RSL to 8-4-4 at home this season entering next Sunday’s reg. season finale against Kansas City, FW Jefferson Savarino providing the game-winner to move to six regular-season goals on the season, one behind the three-way “Golden Boot” triumvirate of MF Albert Rusnák alongside FW Joao Plata and FW Yura Movsisyan, each with seven goals. Rusnák’s 13 assists thus far this year – with three games remaining – sets a new standard for the second-highest single-season total in club history (surpassing the 12 set in 2016 by Plata and 2014 by Javier Morales) – and sits just two helpers shy of matching Morales’ club-record 15 assists in 2008.
