COMMERCE CITY, Colo. —The Colorado Rapids will resume their 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on Wednesday, May 24, when they host a derby rematch against Real Salt Lake at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in the tournament’s Round of 16 (8 p.m. MT; CBS Sports Golazo Network, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).
Colorado will face Salt Lake after the two clubs squared off last Saturday for MLS Rivalry Week, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat for the Rapids in the first leg of the 2023 Rocky Mountain Cup. Both of the Rapids’ goals in the match came from center backs, with Danny Wilson and Lalas Abubakar soaring to score off headers each. Wilson netted his first goal of the season off a Connor Ronan free kick, while tacking on an assist later in the match to mark the first game of his career with a goal and assist. Abubakar looked to spark a comeback with his second goal of the season, which marked his third consecutive match with a goal against RSL after scoring both equalizers in the Rapids’ two draws against the Utah side last season.
The Burgundy Boys qualified to the Round of 16 after surging to a 4-2 win on the road against USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC in the Round of 32, marking the first time since 2017 that the club has advanced to the Round of 16 and the first time since 2012 that the club has won an Open Cup game on the road. It was also the first time since 1999 that the Rapids recorded consecutive victories in the tournament’s knockout stages. Forward Jonathan Lewis currently leads his side with three goals in the tournament this year, while five players are tied with one assist each.
Real Salt Lake qualified to this stage of the Open Cup after defeating the Portland Timbers 4-3 in the Round of 32, marking their first appearance in the Round of 16 since 2016. Wednesday’s match won’t be the first time the two regional rivals face off in the tournament, though their only other meeting was a 1-0 Rapids win in the Fourth Round that took place at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2007. Forward Jefferson Savarino currently leads RSL with three goals in MLS play and is tied for most assists on the team with three, although he did not appear in Saturday’s league match.
Although the midweek Open Cup match won’t count toward the Rocky Mountain Cup series, the presence of several familiar faces across the rivalry should heighten the intensity of Wednesday’s clash. Salt Lake head coach, Pablo Mastroeni, is a Rapids club icon after spending 12 seasons of his playing player with the club (2002-2013). He currently holds the club record for all-time appearances (225) and games started (217), and cemented his legacy after captaining the Rapids to their first MLS Cup in 2010. Four years later, he was appointed Rapids head coach and helped the club reach the 2016 Western Conference Final while posting a then-club record 58 points in the regular season. Meanwhile, Rapids head coach Robin Fraser is no stranger to the visitors, either, having made his coaching debut as an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake in 2007 and later winning the 2009 MLS Cup with the side.
