The Rapids’ rivalry with expansion team Real Salt Lake last season was about as convincing as an Oliver Stone film.
The Rapids were 3-1 against Salt Lake in 2005 and won the inaugural Rocky Mountain Cup while Salt Lake racked up a Major League Soccer-worst 22 losses.
But with the trade that swapped Clint Mathis for Jeff Cunningham and Salt Lake’s addition of former Rapids goalie Scott Garlick, the plot has thickened heading into Saturday’s meeting at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Rapids (3-3-1) are confident after a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles, and Salt Lake (2-5-1) is on track after consecutive victories.
“I would say I expected it, but I would have liked to have it sooner,” Salt Lake coach John Ellinger said of his team’s form while tipping his hat to midfielder Chris Klein.
Mathis, battling a groin injury, is expected to play against his old team, and Ellinger, who traded him after one season, expects the Georgia native to be fired up.
Cunningham said Monday he has no ill feelings toward his former teammates, but was a little upset with some comments he has read from Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo.
Clavijo said he has no problem with Cunningham and that the striker did everything he was asked, which was to score goals. Clavijo said he traded Cunningham primarily for better team cohesion.
Cunningham has four goals in eight games for Salt Lake while Mathis has zero goals and assists in three starts.
But does any of this make for a better rivalry?
“I hope so,” Clavijo said. “Let me put it this way, I hate everybody. I want to beat everybody every time I play them.”
New blood flowing
Bouna Coundoul no longer looks like a third-string goalie after capping his starting debut against the Galaxy with five saves for Colorado’s first shutout of the season.
Coundoul’s best save was a point-blank stop on Kyle Martino in the 45th minute.
“They’re all kind of good saves, but some of them, after you save it you say, ‘Whoa, how did I do that?”‘ Coundoul said.
Joe Cannon (groin) is questionable, and Clavijo said he probably will stick with Coundoul on Saturday.
Rookie striker Jacob Peterson scored his first MLS goal for the win with a one-timer off a great pass from Eric Denton.
“It was just instinct,” Peterson said.
