Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
TV/Radio: Altitude TV, 950 AM
Spotlight on Kyle Beckerman:
The midfielder, who played for Colorado from 2002-07, returns for his 30th appearance in the Rocky Mountain Cup — most all time (10 for Colorado, 19 for RSL). He will face U.S. national team teammate Jermaine Jones, who said this week that Beckerman doesn’t get the respect he deserves for the dirty work he does for the U.S. as a holding midfielder.
“Before the game, I have so much respect for Kyle,” Jones said. “But if we go in the game, I think he’s the same; he wants to win for his team and I want to win for my team.”
NOTEBOOK
Colorado:
The Rapids (5-2-2) enter the match in first place in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 17 points in nine games. This is the latest Colorado has led the Western Conference since June 1, 2008, when the Rapids held first place after 10 games. … The Rapids have a 4-0-0 record at home this season, and are unbeaten in their last four games overall (3-0-1). … Colorado has scored nine goals the last four games. The Rapids have allowed just eight goals all season, tied for fewest in the conference.
READ:
Real Salt Lake:
The Claret and Cobalt (5-1-2) are tied with Colorado at 17 points but trails the Rapids in the standings on goal differential, with a game in hand. … RSL won the teams’ first meeting this season 1-0 on Joao Plata’s goal after a blunder in the back by Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath and defender Axel Sjoberg. … With a win Saturday, RSL would take back the Rocky Mountain Cup.
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Footnotes:
Marco Pappa (knee), Eric Miller (groin) and Dominique Badji (thigh) are questionable because of injuries. Sean St. Ledger is out for Colorado. Plata (quad) and Aaron Maund (hamstring) are questionable for RSL. … Colorado is 11-14-10 all time against RSL.
