Twitter Facebook copy-url COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids (3-12-10, 19 pts) check out Real Salt Lake (10-9-7, 37 pts) at America First Arena this Saturday, Sept. 2, for the second leg of the Rocky Hill Cup (7:30 p.m. MT; Apple Television-- MLS Season Pass, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM). First disputed in 2005, the Rocky Hill Cup is a supporter-driven trophy granted to the winner of the routine period series in between the two local opponents, as established by a bipartisan committee of advocates from both groups. This period's victor will be crowned based upon complete factors made from the series. If the groups are incorporated points following their 3 regular-season competitions in 2023 Felipe Mora T-Shirt, the tiebreaker will be total goals racked up throughout the series. If the teams are still linked afterwards, the present owner of the Mug, Real Salt Lake, will maintain it. "It's a large thing for us. It's a big thing for the club. It's a large thing for our supporters, " Rapids head instructor Robin Fraser stated in advance of Saturday's game. "We saw it a number of years ago when we had lost the very first video game 4-1 and wound up winning 5-0 there and also won the Rocky Hill Mug. Most likely before that game, I was almost, 'We require to win video games. We need to reach the playoffs. We need to perform. We require to improve.' However when I saw the response to that, and the reaction to winning the Rocky Hill Cup, it's been of miraculous importance since. So we were absolutely exceptionally dissatisfied to drop the video game in the house this year as well as we really feel like we have a big mountain to climb up offered the top quality of their team, however it's an obstacle that we not just recognize is there however we need to welcome." The Rapids get in Saturday's match following a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United FC when driving midweek. A solid beginning in ownership as well as opportunities was reversed 18 minutes into the match after the Rapids acknowledged a penalty that Emanuel Reynoso converted to put Minnesota in advance early. The Loons then included two even more goals in the initial fifty percent to put the game out of reach. "Another let down sensation appearing of this game, mostly since in the very first fifty percent, we actually had some good moments, but our mistakes actually buried us early, " stated Fraser following the loss on Wednesday." [I] n the 2nd fifty percent https://www.portlandtimberstee.com/Ryan-Bilichuk-T-Shirt, we once more revealed rather a bit of resolve. We saw some truly great up front that had the ability to produce some turn overs, which led to possibilities for us. And probably the most significant message to the group is the mindset. It requires to be there initially. As well as in a period that's gone the means this has actually gone, we absolutely check out bright areas as prospective for the following game. Definitely, what we saw tonight-- the work out of [Rapids midfielder] Sidnei [Tavares], the work out of [Rapids onward] Rafa [Navarro]-- great to get [Rapids midfielder] Cole [Bassett] back. so, as unsatisfactory as it is, we seem like there are positives that we can take from it." Real Salt Lake head right into the Rocky Mountain clash with one of one of the most skilled offenses in the league this period, ranking top two in MLS in complete shots (2nd), shots on target (first) and also helps (tied for 2nd), while ranking tenth for most objectives scored in the organization with 36. Nonetheless, the club has actually shed its last four video games throughout all competitors. After receiving the knockout phases of the 2023 Leagues Mug and also progressing to the quarterfinals, RSL was removed from the event by LAFC in a 4-0 defeat. Salt Lake then saw their 2023 Lamar Quest united state Open Cup run end 2 weeks later 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 league play last weekend break. The streak continued on Wednesday versus the Portland Timbers, losing 2-1 in their trip to the Pacific Northwest. Salt Lake ahead Jefferson Savarino leads the group with six goals as well as is connected 2nd on the group with five assists this season, while forward Danny Musovski has actually also added 5 objectives and 4 aids in organization play. Saturday's match will be the second of a 3 matches in the regional series this period. Both sides initially fulfilled this year on May 20 in Colorado, leading to a 3-2 win for RSL. The Rapids came under a very early deficit in the initial half with Salt Lake racking up twice within the first 20 minutes. However, Rapids defender Danny Wilson racked up a header to bring the deficit to one prior to RSL racked up a third objective right before halftime. Midway through the 2nd half, Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar racked up a 2nd goal for the team, yet the group was unable to complete the resurgence. Abubakar's goal marked his third successive objective versus RSL after scoring tboth of the adjusting goals in the 2022 competitions. Colorado's loss in the very first leg of the collection this season suggests a loss on Saturday would certainly offer RSL the 2023 Rocky Mountain Mug, but a draw or win will keep the Rapids in the competing the trophy. "It's clearly one of the biggest competitions in the league, " Rapids defender Andrew Gutman said. "There's a trophy at risk, so that's something right there. To bet a prize Zac McGraw T-Shirt, to be able to win something this year, provided [the method] the period's gone, is enormous. For me personally, you know, I have actually played in different rivalries. I have actually played in the New York rivalry. I assume that's one of the greatest ones in the league. So you need to go into that [recognizing] that it's mosting likely to be a dogfight, that you're mosting likely to need to offer every little thing you can. And you know so for me, directly, I'm mosting likely to try to inspire myself and also motivate the team that despite what's going on in the period, this is going to be just one of the greatest games of the year and we require to go in there knowing it's mosting likely to be a dogfight and be up for the fight." The Rapids and also RSL have actually faced each other 54 times in the routine period with the Utah side having a benefit in the series (26-25-12, W-L-D). Colorado has struggled on the roadway versus their Rocky Mountain rival, winning just 4 of 27 matches played in Salt Lake (4-16-7). Their last road win in Utah occurred in 2020 when the Rapids won 5-0 in Rio Tinto Stadium, the biggest margin of success in the series for Colorado. A number of acquainted faces throughout the rivalry will enhance the intensity of Saturday's clash. Salt Lake head instructor and also Rapids club icon Pablo Mastroeni will be dealing with Colorado for the 3rd time as a head coach. The previous united state Guy's National Team stalwart invested 12 seasons as a gamer with Colorado (2002-2013) and also holds the club record for all-time looks (225) as well as video games begun (217 ). Mastroeni captained the Rapids to its first MLS Cup in 2010. 4 years later, he was assigned Rapids head train and helped the club get to the 2016 Western Meeting Final while publishing a then-club record 58 points in the routine season. At the same time, Rapids head coach Robin Fraser is no unfamiliar person to RSL, either, having made his mentoring launching as an assistant trainer for Real Salt Lake in 2007 as well as later winning the 2009 MLS Mug with the side.