Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids | 2016 MLS Match Preview

REAL SALT LAKE vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Rio Tinto Stadium | Sandy, Utah
Friday, August 26 | Week #25 | MLS Game #256
8 pm ET (UniMás, MLS LIVE)

The Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided in a massive match for both clubsí playoff ambitions as Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids kick off the second edition of Heineken Rivalry Week on Viernes de F˙tbol at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real kicked off a long homestand with a victory, still undefeated in Sandy following a 1-0 triumph against FC Dallas last weekend, which propelled them into third place in the Western Conference. Just three points farther ahead are the Rapids, who extended their current undefeated run to three games with a scoreless draw with Orlando City SC last Saturday at Dickís Sporting Goods Park. The rivals have met twice this season, each winning 1-0 on their home ground.

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• Real remained undefeated at Rio Tinto Stadium this season, winning a second consecutive home match as Jamíson Olave scored the game’s lone goal in a victory against FC Dallas on Saturday evening. RSL is 7-0-5 at home this season, one of four teams still without a home defeat in MLS this year (also: Colorado, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy).
• The Rapids extended their current undefeated streak to three matches, having now lost just once in their last 19 games, dating back to April 9, reaching a second consecutive draw in a goalless result with Orlando City SC on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season for the Rocky Mountain Cup, a trophy awarded by the supporters groups of both teams, and each team has won 1-0 on their home ground. Joao Plata scored the game’s only goal to lead Real to victory April 9 at Rio Tinto Stadium; Jermaine Jones scored the lone goal in the Rapids win May 7 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
• Real have a 13-game home undefeated streak alive vs. Colorado. Since the Rapids last win in Utah, a 2-0 victory April 30, 2007 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Real have won nine games with four draws. Colorado has never won at Rio Tinto Stadium (0-7-4 all-time in league play).

REFEREE: Jair Marrufo.
MLS Career: 206 games; FC/gm: 23.3; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 39; pens: 57
AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Apolinar Mariscal; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal

SUSPENDED: RSL: Tony Beltran (caution accumulation; through Aug. 28)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: RSL: Sunday Stephen, Aaron Maund...COL: Axel Sjoberg, Jared Watts, Jermaine Jones, Eric Miller, Shkelzen Gashi, Micheal Azira
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (36 meetings): Real 14 wins, 41 goals...Rapids 12 wins, 34 goals...Ties 10
AT SALT LAKE (18 meetings): Real 10 wins, 25 goals...Rapids 3 wins, 11 goals...Ties 5

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MLS Disciplinary Report