RSL, Sporting KC set to write another chapter in heated rivalry


5 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SANDY — Real Salt Lake midfielder Luke Mulholland is well aware of the emotions behind Sporting Kansas City’s trip to the Rocky Mountains for Sunday’s match.

The 26-year-old England native heard the comments KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber said about RSL in April, using words like “hate” and “despise” to further fuel a rivalry most affected by the 2013 MLS Cup final, which SKC won on penalty kicks.

RSL (4-5-6) hopes it can return the favor Sunday in the two clubs’ first match in Salt Lake City of the 2015 season at 8 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.

“We see it, we feel it; they’ve made it well aware that they don’t like us,” Mulholland said. “When someone doesn’t like us, we can’t really like them back, I guess.

“There’s definitely that growing rivalry. But I think it’s just two teams that are both passionate and want to win every game for their team and for their fans.”

The second of three Sunday matches will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1, and the national television atmosphere illuminates a brewing storm of two teams that either don’t like each other — or two squads that just want to win a lot, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said.

“I think it is just two teams that like to go after each other, that like to fight on the field to get their points,” Rimando said. “Whether it’s here or it’s in Kansas City, it’s just another game to continue to improve and get where we want to be.”

RSL needs to start racking up points to avoid falling far below the playoff line during the hot summer months of MLS’s grueling midseason. The club currently sits just three points clear of Colorado for last place in the Western Conference, while Sporting KC (6-2-6) has ridden a seven-match unbeaten streak to third in the West with at least one game in hand over league-leading Seattle and Vancouver.

Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales is tripped up by Sporting KC's Paulo Nagamura during a game at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. on Saturday, April 5, 2014. (Photo: Matt Gade/Deseret News)
Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales is tripped up by Sporting KC's Paulo Nagamura during a game at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. on Saturday, April 5, 2014. (Photo: Matt Gade/Deseret News)

Kansas City has consistently been a team that relies on its direct style of play, along with budding star Dom Dwyer (the newlywed husband of U.S. women’s star Sydney Leroux) and his four goals in 2015. Dwyer could also earn his 50th career start in MLS on Sunday.

Sporting KC is unbeaten in five straight meetings with RSL, boasting a 2-0-3 record since the Cup final in 2013. The two teams have seen games decided by one or fewer goals in seven of the last eight meetings, making containing SKC’s goal-scorers that much more valuable for RSL.

“We’re going to do it ourselves, and we’re going to be better with the ball,” RSL coach Jeff Cassar said when asked about SKC’s direct style of play. “If they don’t have the ball, they can’t attack.”

With temperatures projected as high as 100 degrees during the day on Sunday in the Salt Lake Valley, Cassar said MLS will likely allow two water breaks for both teams, around the 30 and 75 minute marks, as long as the temperature stays above 90 degrees. Handling the heat as well as the pressure of a Sporting attack will be key to earning a favorable result.

“We’ve been talking about it all week, and making sure we are taking care of ourselves leading up to the game and at halftime,” Cassar added. “Our training staff is fantastic, and has really helped the guys prepare with all the supplements they need. And both teams have to deal with it, so at the end of the day, it’s even.”

Rimando agreed with his coach and former Miami Fusion teammate, adding that the weather conditions don’t favor one side over the other.

“We don’t want it to be this hot, but in the end, with two teams that know each other, we’ll just stay hydrated and make sure that your bodies are fresh and ready to go,” he said.

One of Mulholland’s earliest appearances with RSL came in one of those draws at Kansas City, and the midfielder still remembers the buzz of that game nearly two seasons later.

“Going into their place, their atmosphere is buzzing,” Mulholland said. “But oft times we’ve gone there, we could get out of there with a draw. “We’re looking forward to making it difficult for them to come here and get out alive.”

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsReal Salt Lake
Sean Walker

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast