The weather is going to be warming up in Commerce City this Saturday. Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids face each other in the first 2025 Rocky Mountain Cup confrontation at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. The match, which brings back one of the most vintage rivalries in MLS, is the meeting of two clubs going through unstable times, even with recent past still hurting or motivating.
The Rapids are trying to replicate last year's dominance and keep the cup in-house. RSL needs to win the series in return to reclaim the dominance built up over well over a decade. Whichever wins, doing much more than just climbing the table, lights an incredibly fierce fire in the campaign.
Colorado Rapids try to revive the soccer which used to work
The Rapids fans still cannot quite get an idea what to expect from the team this year. The good start has transformed into concern in the last two rounds. Having not lost a match since April 12, when they beat San Diego away, the team struggled and lost again to the Californians 2-0 in the latest match. The performance in attack fell, self-confidence declined, and the Rapids come with pressure even at home.
But the recent past against RSL does some justice. Two wins and one loss in the three rivalry games played in 2024. And more. Every time Cole Bassett stepped onto the field against the enemy, he made his mark. The midfielder was the nickname of last season's series, with one goal in each of the three games and a clutch assist.
And besides, the trophy is already home in Colorado. And by rivalry tradition, a tie in the series gives the title to the defending champion. With just two games counting this season, winning at home all but guarantees the trophy stays home.
RSL is looking for the reaction in the rivalry so it does not lose its way in the season
Real Salt Lake is not much better. Two points behind the rival at 20, the team also arrives in formless fashion. Only two wins in the last nine and an offense too reliant on Diego Luna have contributed to the woes of the side. The scoreless tie with Portland last time out, even without starters Justen Glad and William Agada, indicated a team that is solid defensively but also very unexciting.
In spite of this, there is reason to be hopeful. Luna leads RSL with seven goals in twelve matches and requires one goal to put him above his 2024 total, a year in which he was an MLS All-Star and Young Player of the Year. With support from captain Emeka Eneli and consistent producers like Braian Ojeda, Diogo Gonçalves, and goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, the team has a strong foundation.
The question mark for Utah fans is the performance of the team away from home. RSL has won only twice on the road in 2025 outside America First Field. And the recent run at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park is not helping either. The last win there was in October 2023, 1-0, courtesy a Luna goal himself. All hope rests on his shoulders.
The trophy balances in the air and the burden of history weighs sorely
The Rocky Mountain Cup has special rules. With the series cut back to two games in 2025, Colorado Rapids get to keep the cup with one victory or two ties. Real Salt Lake has to win the series, i.e., end the two games with more points. That heightens the stakes for this Saturday's game, as the second leg will be held in Utah on October 4.
Over the last 20 years, RSL has dominated the rivalry by a wide margin. There have been 30 wins, 17 losses, and 13 draws. They have won 15 of the last 18 Rocky Mountain Cups. But Colorado broke that streak last year, and that fueled the fire of the rivalry. The 3-2 comeback road win in July is still fresh in mind. What once felt like a givestat now feels like an actual dogfight.
And there's a curious fact. In spite of all these meetings, they never met in the playoffs. However, the tension level is the same. The fans treat this confrontation as if it were the final.