Rocky Mountain Cup To Be Decided Tomorrow

FaKe SaLt LaKe

The yahoos from west of the mountains have invaded again sadly.  Tomorrow we'll get another chance to send them home without the Cup.  Its simple, if the Rapids get any points out of the game, they also get the Cup.  If the Rapids get nothing Salt Lake takes the Cup home with them again.  Oh, and its also first versus second place in the West, but that's not as important as the Cup.  Game time tomorrow is an earlier 6:30pm kickoff so the game can be part of NBC's MLS Wraparound show (think MLS's version of NFL Red Zone) and Flemming and 'Celo will have the call on Altitude.  Tailgate with Polygamy Porter Pork Sandwiches starts at 3:30.

Injury Report:

OUT:  DF Diego Calderon (R knee Surgery)
QUESTIONABLE: DF Kory Kindle (L ankle sprain); DF Brian Mullan (R knee): MF Martin Rivero (L quad strain)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: MF Hendry Thomas (2 games)
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOWS: DF Shane O'Neill; MF Dillon Powers; MF Nathan Sturgis

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificate

Injury report got a bit worse this week.  Rivero's addition in the big one, no way he's in the 18 tomorrow according to reports.  Salt Lake has 6 players out injured and 3 suspended, so we're getting them at a weakened state.  My guess at our XI:

Yes, I am predicting we'll wear the blues at home again tomorrow.  Players tend to be superstitious about such things and we've gotten 4 points in two games against FSL this year wearing the blues.  I prefer the burgundy, but what can you do.  If LaBrocca's groin strain keeps him out then we could see Castrillon, or O'Neill could move forward, pushing Sturgis up, and slotting Mera in.

Key To Look For: Bring. It. Home.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Brown.  Much like a former Caribbean rookie that won us the Cup on a goal in the final game of the season, Fabrice Noel, Deshorn Brown will bring it home after a hard fought game.  This assumes FSL puts out as strong a lineup as they can.  If they decide to punt on the game to rest players for their USOC semifinal on Wednesday then the Rapids win 2-1 on goals from Brown and Sturgis.  Either way without Thomas I don't see a shutout happening.