It has been a month and a half since their last match, but the Rapids Reserves are back in action this weekend. Shortly after the MLS Regular Season showdown on Saturday night, the reserve teams of the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake will face-off at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday morning on Field 20 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (admission free).
“These reserve games are great because they get guys that are coming back from injury minutes they need, or young players that need minutes to improve their development,” said Steve Cooke, Head Coach of the Rapids Reserves. “They get an opportunity to show in a game situation that all their hard work from training is paying off.”
Heading into Sunday’s match, the Rapids Reserves are 2-2-1 overall, and 0-2-1 in MLS Reserve League action (they played two exhibition matches in March that do not count towards standings). Their last match was a 4-3 loss to Sacramento Republic FC, in which Sacramento scored a late goal to edge the Rapids who had come from behind after allowing three unanswered goals in the first half (pictured above).
The Rapids will likely be without leading goal-scorer Gabriel Torres (three goals), who has been regularly included in the first team 18-man roster of late.
Across the league, the Rapids Reserves are at the bottom of the table, but have at least two games in hand against the other seven teams. With five matches remaining, Colorado still has a good chance to move up some spots, but according to Cooke, that’s not the priority.
“The most important part is that players are working on the things we talk with them about and making individual progress. As we get to the part of the regular season that really matters, all these guys are improving and showing that they’re ready to contribute when it comes time for playoffs.”
Opponents Real Salt Lake are 5th in the standings with a 1-1-3 record. Their last match resulted in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of USL Pro side Pittsburgh Riverhounds on July 25, their first loss of the season.
