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Before the last match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto earlier in the year, Colorado lost the services of one of their most stalwart players. Steady defensive midfielder and captain Pablo Mastroeni had hurt himself the game before against Dallas, leaving Colorado with some need of answers against Salt Lake roster-wise. Eventually Jamie Smith took his position and played fairly well but Colorado still fell 1-0 in that game.
For the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup next friday, the roles have been reversed. Salt Lake's captain and defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman has been suspended for several games following a headbutt against the Chicago Fire, and as a result will miss the RMC showdown at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
This should give the Rapids a bit more of an advantage playing an already injured and badly streaking Salt Lake team, and the Rapids could use any help that they can get to snag as many points as they can out of the last two games with RSL being the harder of the two.