There was no winner in the Colorado Rapids' 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake on Thursday, and of course, there was no loser. But most importantly, there was no love lost between a pair of teams that have quickly built up an intense rivalry as they fight for bragging rights in the Rocky Mountains.
"I don't think it's a big secret, these teams don't like each other," Rapids striker Herculez Gomez said following the second match in the four-match season-long contest for the Rocky Mountain Cup. "They stole two points from us today. We can't give up points at home, and for that, there will be payback."
RSL came to Colorado determined to dispense some payback of their own after the Rapids humiliated them in Salt Lake 10 days ago, blanking them 2-0 and celebrating enthusiastically on Real's home field.
"They came here to play - they were ready," said head coach Fernando Clavijo of Salt Lake's inspired play. "This is a team that's desperate, with a lot of things to prove to their new coach. They're always a difficult team to play. But it's a long season and we still have four points compared to one for them."
Most of the game's heightened intensity played out on the field, with the two teams aggressively taking each other on in a fast-flowing, physical match.
Gomez gave RSL enough problems that they resorted to stiff-arm tactics against him - literally. His cross led to the deflection off Real defender Jack Stewart for the own goal that gave Colorado a fourth-minute lead. Later in the half Gomez was charging for the goal with only defender Daniel Torres left between him and a shot on goal. Torres fended him off with what Gomez called "a stiff arm to the face," raising tension when the referees let it go without comment.
"I don't know how you can just allow somebody to have their hand in another player's face the whole time," Gomez said. "At least warn him. It's tough for the referee to give me a PK there. I don't expect a PK, but I do expect maybe a warning. 'Don't do it again,' or talking to him. I'm trying to use my speed to my advantage, and I'm trying to dip my shoulder in to get in to him so I can try to get an advantage, but I can't do that if my face is being prevented from moving down."
Despite the indignity of having Real literally in their face, the Rapids relished the intensity of their Rocky Mountain rivalry.
"It's good," said Rapids defender Dan Gargan, who spent much of the night going head-to-head with Real winger Freddy Adu. "It's good for the fans, it's good for us, it raises the level of the game, raises the intensity, and it's fun."
Part of the fun for the Rapids is in eliminating the fun from their opponents, and six games into the season, they wear "most wanted" status as a badge of honor.
"I'm starting to find out in my time here that a lot of teams don't like us," Gomez said of the new challenge he's discovered since joining the Rapids in the offseason. "We've got guys who love playing under that type of pressure - Pablo, Kyle, they love getting under the opponents' skin, and I love helping them. I don't really have to run my mouth, but my play will help them."
Gomez did his part in keeping the animosity alive on RSL's part, keeping them winless on the season and maintaining the three-point lead in the Rocky Mountain Cup.
But although the Rapids' play was vastly improved since their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Houston Dynamo last Saturday, Clavijo was not satisfied with the overall effort, especially at home.
"We wanted three points today, but we got one. And we allowed them to take one today," Clavijo said. "You got to remember, this is not just a regular game. We've created a rivalry right now with Real Salt Lake and every time we step onto the field we better be ready to perform."
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
