Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 8
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy
April 21 – 9 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

A Rocky Mountain rivalry is renewed Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, as Real Salt Lake hosts the Colorado Rapids with the two teams coming into the showdown at different ends of the spectrum.

Real Salt Lake are looking to regroup from a shellacking by New York City FC last Wednesday, while the Rapids are riding the confidence of four consecutive matches without defeat.

Real Salt Lake have won three of the last five games against Colorado, however they have been held scoreless in both of their losses to the Rapids, per Opta.

Real Salt Lake   

Real Salt Lake (2-3-1) continue to struggle putting consecutive solid performances together, following a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC with a thorough 4-0 defeat to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday.

Mike Petke made two changes to his side that beat the Whitecaps, bringing on Adam Henley and David Horst for the injured Marcelo Silva and Demar Phillips in his four-man backline.

But RSL conceded three times in the first half and the search for answers continues as it’s back to the drawing board against a Colorado Rapids team that comes to Sandy on a four-match unbeaten streak.

“It was just bad from start to finish, not much you can take from it,” midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “Hopefully we have a good response, which I think we will. That’s all you can do is respond from a terrible game and hopefully we can move on from there and start building something positive.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D – Tony Beltran (right knee surgery), M – Jordan Allen (knee), D – Taylor Peay (knee); QUESTIONABLE: D – Shawn Barry (hamstring), M – Luke Mulholland (hamstring), D – Demar Phillips (ankle), D – Marcelo Silva (groin)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2–3-1, right to left)
GK: Nick Rimando — Brooks Lennon, David Horst, Justen Glad, Adam Henley— Damir Kreilach, Kyle Beckerman — Corey Baird, Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino — Luis Silva

• Notes: Real Salt Lake are facing an average of 17.3 shots per game this year, the most of any team in the league. … Real Salt Lake have won seven of their last eight home games (1L) and have outscored the opposition 18-9 along the way.

Colorado Rapids         

The Rapids are a Chris Tierney stoppage-time free kick from being undefeated in league play in 2018. After opening up the season with that 2-1 loss at New England, Colorado (2-1-2) have two wins and two draws in their next four games, including a 2-0 victory over a reserve-heavy Toronto FC roster Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Anthony Hudson made two changes to his starting XI from a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas the previous weekend, bringing Enzo Martinez back into the midfield and starting Jack McBean up top in place of Joe Mason.

Jack Price scored his first MLS goal 78 seconds after kickoff and Shkelzen Gashi added a 78th-minute penalty kick.

And now the focus shifts to a rivalry match with an RSL team desperate for points.

“We understand how important this is to the fans, to the club, the history of this game,” Hudson said. “That is something we are not taking for granted, but we also know to prepare best for this game we have to totally focus on the game plan and preparation.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Jack Price
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D – Kortne Ford (knee), D – Marlon Hairston (knee); QUESTIONABLE: D – Danny Wilson (undisclosed)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Deklan Wynne, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Kip Colvey, Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Enzo Martinez, Edgar Castillo — Jack McBean, Dominique Badji

• Notes: Colorado have only won once in their last 20 regular season road games (16L-3D), and only scored nine goals along the way. … Colorado’s penalty kick goal last weekend was their first in 35 regular season matches (Kevin Doyle scored against Sporting Kansas City on April 9th of last year).

All-Time Series

• Overall: Real Salt Lake 17 wins, 49 goals … Colorado Rapids 13 wins, 38 goals … 10 ties
• At Salt Lake: RSL 12 wins, 31 goals … Rapids 3 wins, 13 goals … 5 ties
• Last meeting at Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 4, Colorado Rapids 1 (Aug. 26, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Jonathan Johnson
4th Official: Chico Grajeda
VAR: Ricardo Salazar