IT’S NOT JUST A GAME—IT’S THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CUP
Since 2005, the Rapids and Real Salt Lake have taken part in one of the most heated rivalries in MLS. The two clubs compete for the Rocky Mountain Cup, a trophy awarded to the winner of the regular season series, based on total points, by a bipartisan committee of supporters from the two teams.
A new layer was added to the rivalry when Rapids legend Pablo Mastroeni joined the RSL technical staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2021 season, and later, was named head coach of the club. Saturday’s match will mark the first leg of the Cup this year, with the two sides facing each other two more times during the regular season.
Additionally, the regional rivalry will extend to the U.S. Open Cup with a Round of 16 matchup just four days after their MLS match this Saturday, though the Cup result will not count toward the Rocky Mountain Cup series.
YAPI & THE U.S. KICK OFF U-20 WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN
Rapids forward Darren Yapi and the U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team will begin their run in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup this Saturday, May 20, against Ecuador (12 p.m. MT). Yapi was named to the 21-man roster last week ahead of the tournament, which kicks off this weekend in Argentina.
A product of the Rapids Academy, Yapi became the youngest player in club history to sign a professional contract with the Rapids when he became a Homegrown Player at age 16. The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on March 12, 2022, and has gone on to make 21 appearances for the Rapids since then, while also contributing to the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side, Rapids 2, with six goals from 16 appearances during their inaugural season in 2022.
BUT CAN THEY DO IT ON A COLD, WINDY NIGHT AT ALTITUDE?
The Rapids currently hold one of the best run of forms at home in MLS over recent years: since 2021, Colorado is tied for the second-fewest losses at home in the league (5).
Fewest losses at home in MLS since 2021:
- Philadelphia Union - 4
- Colorado Rapids - 5
- Los Angeles Football Club - 5
- Three teams tied - 6
UPDATES ON UTAH
Real Salt Lake are winless in four consecutive MLS matches going into Saturday’s showdown. The previous MLS fixture between the two clubs saw them play out a 2-2 draw at America First Field in July of last year. The Rapids got into an early 2-0 deficit before forward Diego Rubio converted a penalty and defender Lalas Abubakar scored a late-game equalizer in the 89th minute.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
- Rapids Head Coach Robin Fraser earned his very first assistant coaching opportunity in MLS in 2007 with Real Salt Lake and won the MLS Cup with the club in 2009. Fraser served on the RSL coaching staff until 2011 when he was hired as the head coach of Chivas USA.
- Real Salt Lake head coach and Rapids club icon Pablo Mastroeni spent 12 seasons as a player in Colorado (2002-2013). Mastroeni leads the club in all-time appearances (225) and games started (217), in addition to captaining the side to the 2010 MLS Cup. Mastroeni was later appointed Rapids head coach from 2014-2017, helping his side reach the 2016 Western Conference Final while posting a then-club record 58 points in the regular season.
- Rapids defender Michael Edwards and RSL midfielder Moses Nyeman were teammates at the youth level at D.C. United in 2018.
- RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath spent four seasons with the Rapids from 2015 to 2018, earning 10 clean sheets in 41 appearances across all competitions. Notably, MacMath was named Colorado’s co-Most Valuable Player with Tim Howard in 2016, and was named the Rapids Humanitarian of the Year for his work in the community in both 2017 and 2018.
- RSL assistant coach Brett Jacobs coached Mastroeni in Colorado from 2008 to 2013, and in that span won the 2010 MLS Cup, saw double-digit wins in multiple seasons and competed in the Concacaf Champions League.
- RSL goalkeeper Tomás Gómez and Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry were teammates at Georgetown University from 2012-2014.
MILESTONE TRACKER
- F Diego Rubio is one goal away from tying John Spencer for fourth-most goals in club history (37).
- Rubio is one assist away from tying Dillon Powers for sixth-most in club history (26).
- Rubio is one game-winning assist away from tying Ross Paule for the third most in club history (9).
- Rubio is 69 minutes away from recording 10,000 minutes in MLS.
- D Keegan Rosenberry is one start away from surpassing Kyle Beckerman (123) for the sixth-most starts in club history (124).
- Rosenberry is one start away from recording his 200th start in MLS.
- GK William Yarbrough is two saves away from recording 300 saves in MLS.
- F Michael Barrios is one start away from collecting his 50th start (80th appearance) as a member of the Rapids.
- D Anthony Markanich is 13 minutes away from recording 500 minutes with the Rapids.
*Unless noted otherwise, all markers above encompass MLS regular season only
