Rocky Mountain Cup At Stake

Its the first of the two best games of the year, the Rocky Mountain Cup matchups with FaKe SaLt LaKe. The Rapids head West for the first game to the "wonderful" Salt Lake City metro area. Just as a reminder, the Cup is awarded based on points, with total goals as the tiebreaker. If the teams are tied on points and goals the current holders (right now FSL) retain the cup. Game time is 8pm and its a nationally televised game on Fox Soccer Channel.

Injury Report:

OUT: MF Ciaran O'Brien (L hip sprain); FW Ross Schunk (R ACL tear)

DOUBTFUL: DEF Julian Baudet (L hamstring strain);

QUESTIONABLE: FW Omar Cummings (L ankle sprain)

PROBABLE: GK Matt Pickens (groin)

Discipline Report:

ONE CAUTION FROM SUSPENSION: Conor Casey, Wells Thompson

TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: Omar Cummings, Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Jamie Smith

It was announced today that Cummings did not travel to SLC. Not good. With Baudet and Cummings not playing we're going to have a new lineup. My guess:

Pickens

Kimura - Wynne - Moor - Wallace

Mullan - Larentowicz - Pablo - Smith

Kandji - Casey

Yep, i think Kandji gets his first Rapids start in Cummings' place. otherwise the other 10 that started against New England will continue to start IMO.

Key To Look For: Its the Rocky Mountain Cup. Either you show up or you sit down. Nobody should struggle to get up for this one. Just as a reminder:

Prediction: 0-0 draw. With Cummings out I don't expect to have much offense and I think the team will come in with the idea of pitching a shutout. Our defense is good enough to do that now that we have players like Mullan that can hold the ball and take the pressure off of them. I think its a typical chippy Rocky Mountain Cup game that stays scoreless. I'm a bit out on a limb here, as this would be a great result for the Rapids, but I think they have it in them.