SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake returns home on Friday, when it hosts Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium at 8:00 p.m. MT. Friday’s match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network, ESPN 700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
Friday’s match will be vital for Real Salt Lake’s chances in the Supporters’ Shield race with only six games remaining in the MLS regular season for the Utah club. The Claret-and-Cobalt currently sits third in the Western Conference and fourth in the league with a 12-6-10 record and total of 46 points. Seattle Sounders FC has already clinched a playoff berth as it sits atop the league with 54 points and a 17-7-3 record. LA Galaxy are close behind with 51 points and D.C. United sit a point above RSL with 47.
Real Salt Lake enters Friday’s match coming off a disappointing 3-2 loss at Seattle on Sept. 12. RSL MF Javier Morales scored the opening goal to give the Claret-and-Cobalt a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. Seattle was able to equalize eight minutes later with a golazo from Sounders MF Lamar Neagle and then grab a 2-1 lead through FW Obafemi Martins right before halftime. RSL FW Joao Plata pulled the Claret-and-Cobalt even 2-2 in the 50th minute for his 12th goal of the year, but RSL was later dealt a severe blow when DF Nat Borchers was shown a straight red card in the 68th minute, reducing the squad to 10 men. RSL couldn’t weather the storm at the end, conceding a heartbreaking stoppage time goal scored by Seattle MF Andy Rose to fall 3-2 on the road.
Real Salt Lake will be looking for a clean sweep of Colorado in its third and final regular season match on Friday. The Claret-and-Cobalt took home the Rocky Mountain Cup in their last meeting, a 1-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 2. RSL defeated the Rapids 2-1 in their first encounter of the year on May 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt has now won the RMC seven times in the past eight years.
Real Salt Lake leads Colorado Rapids in regular season matchups, posting an 11-10-9 all-time record against the Rocky Mountain rival. The Claret-and-Cobalt is 8-3-4 at home against Colorado, outscoring the Rapids 19-10 in Utah.
Friday could provide the opportunity for RSL FW Alvaro Saborio to continue his success against Colorado. The Costa Rican international is RSL’s all-time leading goal scorer against the Rapids with six goals and one assist in 10 appearances against the Rocky Mountain rival. Saborio made his return from injury in RSL’s 2-1 win over FC Dallas on Sept. 6, subbing on in the 76th minute and heading home the game-winner just 14 seconds after stepping on to the pitch. RSL’s all-time leading goal scorer also made a substitute appearance last Friday in Seattle, entering the match in the 68th minute.
Real Salt Lake will be without veteran defender Nat Borchers after the center back received a red card in RSL’s loss at Seattle. Claret-and-Cobalt DF Carlos Salcedo will most likely fill in for the suspended Borchers. The Mexican U-21 international has made six appearances this year, two of which were starts.
Colorado enters Friday’s match coming off a 2-2 draw with Portland Timbers on Sept. 13 that ended their seven-game losing streak. The Rapids have gone 0-5-1 since RSL’s 1-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 2.
Real Salt Lake will hit the road after Friday’s contest, as it heads north of the border to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 5:00 p.m. MT. The RSL-Vancouver contest will be broadcast on CW30, ESPN 700 and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. Colorado Rapids
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 7:00 p.m. MT)
- Spanish Radio: 102.3 La Gran D FM
- Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide match updates
Game Guide for Friday’s RSL-COL Match Now Available Online
Following is the link to the Adobe PDF version of the MLS Game Guide in advance of Friday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids. If you have any problems obtaining the document, would prefer to receive it as an attachment, or are seeking more information on the match, please contact PR Coordinator Jane Sexton in the RSL Communications Department via email at jsexton@realsaltlake.com.
Click here to download the PDF version of the MLS Game Guide for Friday’s RSL-COL matchup
RSL History v. Colorado
Friday’s matchup will be the third and final regular season meeting between RSL and Colorado Rapids. The Claret-and-Cobalt took home the Rocky Mountain Cup in their last meeting, a 1-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 2. RSL defeated the Rapids 2-1 in their first encounter of the year on May 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt has now won the RMC seven times in the past eight years.
Real Salt Lake now leads Colorado Rapids in regular season matchups, posting an 11-10-9 all-time record against the Rocky Mountain rival. The Claret-and-Cobalt is 8-3-4 at home against Colorado, outscoring the Rapids 19-10 in Utah.
