The Colorado Rapids will enter Sunday’s 2015 Rocky Mountain Cup finale against Real Salt Lake with lead of three points and two goals, but Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin isn’t resting as the match approaches.
The last time Colorado held the cup, 2013, Irwin recalls a superb performance from Real goaltender Nick Rimando and knows his fellow All-Star will leave it all on the field.
“It’s going to be an intense game,” Irwin told the team website on Wednesday. He fully expects a crazy atmosphere like they experienced in 2013.
“It’s important to fans, important to the club, so we’re going to do all we can [to bring the trophy home].”
This time around, both Irwn and Rimando can call themselves All-Stars, as both were named to the MLS side for the 2015 exhibition against Tottenham Hotspur. Rimando saw 45 minutes of action in the friendly, allowing Tottenham’s only goal in first-half action. Irwin played the backup role for the entirety of the match.
Irwin expects Sunday’s Cup finale to be hotly contested beyond the keepers’ box.
“Guys will be fighting tooth and nail,” he said Wednesday, “for every little piece of field they can get.”
Now in his 16th year in MLS, Rimando is a stalwart for Salt Lake, having played the second-most games in net in league history. Sunday will be his 393rd start; his 1.17 career goals against average is tied for third among keepers with more than 100 career starts. His 1.00 goals against average in 2015 is tops in the league among keepers with at least 1,000 minutes.
Irwin, meanwhile will make his 87th start on Sunday and will be looking for his ninth shutout in 2015. He an Rimando are currently tied with eight.
Colorado and Salt Lake kick off at 5 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 4. Catch the game live on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or streamed live at milehighsports.com or via the Mile High Sports app.