The stakes are always high anytime Real Salt Lake squares off against the Colorado Rapids. It hasn't taken long in RSL's short history for a bitter rivalry to form between the two clubs.
But things will take on an added degree of importance when RSL travels to Colorado for its first game before the ESPN cameras this season. A win against the Rapids could mean a boost for the RSL side into a most unlikely position -- first place in the Western Conference standings.
RSL coach Jason Kreis understands a positive outcome against Colorado would prove once and for all that his team is truly a club on the rise.
"It is an opportunity," Kreis said. "It's a chance to make a statement to everybody about where we're at right now."
During its brief history, RSL has never occupied that elusive top spot. But things seem to be clicking at the right time to where the team could make such a move up.
RSL closed out its recent homestand with a 2-1 victory against FC Dallas. For the first time this season, the RSL side prevailed in a tight contest -- never trailing and coming up with key stops in the defensive third when the Hoops attacked nonstop to try and force a tie in stoppage time.
"That was a testament to our will to win and defend towards the end of the game," said defender Nat Borchers. "There's going to be plenty of games like that the rest of the season, so hopefully we can come out on top."
Real would certainly love nothing more than to come out on top against the Rapids. Their roster is peppered with a host of ex-Colorado players -- Borchers, fellow defender Chris Wingert and standout midfielder Kyle Beckerman. And there has certainly been no love lost between the two clubs in years past.
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that RSL clinched its first-ever Rocky Mountain Cup with a victory against Colorado on its home field last October -- denying the Rapids a playoff berth in the process.
Successfully retaining that cup is a priority to RSL in 2008.
"We stated at the end of last season that the Rocky Mountain Cup was going to mean something to us," Kreis said. "We'd like to continue that."
To do it, RSL will have to figure out how to break through on the road. It is winless in three games outside of Utah. Defending has been the biggest issue in those three losses, with the team giving up eight goals overall.
Colorado has enough speed in the midfield to create problems. But RSL can counter with a height advantage, which it hopes to utilize -- especially on set pieces.
If RSL does breakthrough for its first road victory, potentially moving into first place would feel like validation to all the hard work the club put into improving its fortunes during the offseason.
"To get to the top -- even though it's early -- it's an early reward," Beckerman said. "It would be the first time that the club would be in first. I'm sure all our fans would be happy and the team -- it would give us a boost and it's something we can go on."
For Beckerman, getting a win would put him a step closer to achieving a notable personal milestone in the rivalry. If RSL wins the Rocky Mountain Cup again this season, he would be the only player on either side to have been on the cup winning team all four years.
"It would be cool," Beckerman said. "Something I'd put on my resume for now."
John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
