SANDY, Utah (Thursday, August 25, 2016) – Real Salt Lake continues its late-season homestand against Western Conference elite Friday night in Sandy, against regional rival Colorado Rapids. The nationally-televised kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT, as the Claret-and-Cobalt seek to capture the fan-created Rocky Mountain Cup for the eighth time in the last decade with a victory.
Head Coach Jeff Cassar’s team is one of just four MLS sides unbeaten this season at home, as RSL’s 7-0-5 mark at Rio Tinto Stadium this season buoys the club’s overall 11-8-7 mark, good for third place in the West and a 1.54 points-per-game average, placing RSL sixth overall in the MLS Supporters Shield race.
Including RSL’s 1-0 home win over Colorado back on April 9, the Utah side is unbeaten in its last 13 home regular-season games played against Colorado dating back to Sept. 22, 2007 – winning nine of the 13 with four draws – the Rapids have captured two of the last three Rocky Mountain Cups. RSL has won seven of the 11 all-time regional cups in the rivalry, outscoring the Rapids 22-5 in the last 13 meetings on Utah soil (Colorado last won at Rice-Eccles in April, 2007).
Should he start and play until the game’s 88th minute, RSL Captain and MLS icon Kyle Beckerman will surpass Steve Ralston to become Major League Soccer’s all-time field player minutes leader, with 33,143 played (and counting). Friday could mark Beckerman’s 399th career appearance – already the most among field players – while GK Nick Rimando is also expected Friday to make his MLS-record-breaking 417th appearance in MLS history.
Beckerman was traded from Colorado to RSL in June, 2007, in exchange for MF Mehdi Ballouchy, just days after RSL claimed DF Chris Wingert off Rapids waivers. Both Beckerman and Wingert – among others – forever changed the competitive culture of the RSL organization, the Claret-and-Cobalt capturing its first Rocky Mountain Cup later that year, and winning MLS Cup just 18 months later.
Friday’s game will be televised in Utah via KMYU (English, David James & Brian Dunseth) or heard via RSL outlets ESPN700 AM (English, Bill Riley, Jay Nolly, Spencer Warne & Jeremy Horton) & 102.3 FM / 1600 AM (Spanish, Fernando Hortal & Nelson Moran). Pre-game coverage airs live locally on ESPN700 AM at 5:00 p.m. MT, while KMYU’s three-hour window kicks off at 5:30 p.m. MT live from Sandy.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
- Coverage Begins: 6:00 p.m. MT
- Local TV: KMYU (2.2 air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD) – David James & Brian Dunseth
- National TV: UniMas
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (5:30 p.m. MT) – Bill Riley, Jay Nolly, Spencer Warne & Jeremy Horton
- Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM / 1600 AM – Nelson Moran & Fernando Hortal
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter feed provides updates
Game Guide for Friday’s RSL vs. Colorado Matchup Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the MLS Game Guide in advance of Friday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Colorado is available by clicking HERE.
