Colorado Rapids at Real Salt Lake
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
TV: None
Radio: ESPNews; 1600 Am, 1650 AM
Spotlight on Javier Morales:
The 5-foot-9 playmaking midfielder from Argentina, nicknamed “Maestro,” is one of RSL’s most important players. He scored eight goals and had 10 assists last season, and with him in the lineup RSL was 14-8-6. Without him RSL was 2-2-2, scoring only two goals. He scored a goal and tallied three assists in RSL’s five playoff games last season. He can be especially dangerous on set pieces. Two of his three goals this year have come on direct free kicks. He missed three games last month after suffering a concussion May 1.
NOTEBOOK
Rapids:
The Rapids (2-4-7) are on a two-game losing streak. In their eight games since a 4-0 win at FC Dallas on April 10, they have scored only seven goals. The last time they went to Utah (Sept. 19), they took a 1-0 lead only to get shellacked 5-1. Shane O’Neill and Dillon Serna are with the U.S. U-23 team, playing in a tournament in France. O’Neill went 90 minutes the first three games and Serna has appeared in all four matches. Drew Moor made his 300th MLS appearance last weekend vs. Portland.
Real Salt Lake:
RSL (4-5-5) also is on a two-game losing streak. They are 2-1-3 at home. Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando are with the national team, playing friendlies in Europe against the Netherlands and Germany. Taking Rimando’s place likely will be Jeff Attinella, a third-year player from the University of South Florida who has a 4-7-5 record in MLS.
