Considering Real Salt Lake is tied for fourth place with the MLS Western Conference, and just two points out of second place, Saturday night’s matchup at Rio Tinto Stadium against the Colorado Rapids has innate substantial importance.
Is that all there is to it, though? Does the rivalry between the franchises still elicit any actual additional motivation? Does earning the Rocky Mountain Cup yield any tangible accomplishment beyond pleasing the fans, to say nothing of the benefit inherent in earning three points and remaining well-positioned in the playoff hunt?
“A rivalry is a rivalry. If it matters to the fans, it matters to the players, because we're all in this together, you know?