LAS VEGAS — When Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts and Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni got into a shouting match following a regular season game at Rice-Eccles Stadium last year, it officially thrust the Rocky Mountain rivalry to new heights.
Tonight, the two MLS clubs wrap up their respective preseasons by renewing their enhanced rivalry in Las Vegas, and don't be surprised if sparks fly again.
"It will be intense like it always is," said Real coach John Ellinger. "It's not a league game, but I don't know if it's going to matter."
The sold-out game at UNLV's Peter Johann Memorial Field kicks off at 8:30 p.m. (MDT) and it's the first of at least five, and possibly six, matches between the two teams this year.
In addition to their four regular season matches, if Real Salt Lake beats Kansas City in a U.S. Open Cup qualification match on April 18, its next opponent in the qualification process would be Colorado.
Worrying about the rivalry or thinking ahead to future matches with Colorado is the last thing on the players' minds tonight. Instead, they're focused on building momentum heading into the season-opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium next Saturday against defending Western Conference champion FC Dallas.
"I don't think from our standpoint it's going to be mellow (tonight). We've got to go into this game knowing that our preparation for that first game next week, a lot of it builds from this game," said Real midfielder Carey Talley. "There's nothing wrong with having momentum going into your first game."
In hopes of creating that momentum, Ellinger is going to send his projected opening day starting 11 onto the field tonight and leave them out there as long as they can go. That's the same attitude RSL has approached its past two preseason games with as well. Whether it was the 3-1 win over Chivas USA or 3-0 win over Fresno of the PDL, Ellinger's primary objective leading up to those games was to create a winning attitude among the team and instill some confidence.
It appears to be paying off.
"I really feel over the last few weeks things have come together quite well for us," said Real captain Jason Kreis. "It seems like there's a comfort level and I see it every day in training with all the players. I feel like everyone is hitting their stride right now."
While most players believe an intense atmosphere is inevitable against the Rapids, Kreis just hopes it doesn't escalate too much.
"First and foremost, what's the most important thing in preseason games, it's keeping players healthy," said Kreis. "We need to try and stay even keeled and not be going after things we shouldn't and just continue to work on our shape and organization."
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com