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McCarthy's Musings: Rocky Mountain High?

The game of the weekend will decide the Rocky Mountain Cup. And the Western Conference's final playoff spot. Goal.com's Kyle McCarthy uses his Friday Five to break Colorado - Real Salt Lake.

Oct 24, 2008 9:36:32 PM

MLS: Javier Morales (RSL), David Beckham (Los Angeles), Real Salt Lake v. Los Angeles Galaxy, May 2008 (ISI)

By Kyle McCarthy

Raise your hands. Who would have thought the biggest game during the final weekend of the regular season would take place in Commerce City, Colo.?

No hands? What a surprise. Mine didn't go up either.

Saturday night's clash between Real Salt Lake and Colorado is a do or die game for both sides. Winner (or draw-er for RSL) takes the Rocky Mountain Cup and the last playoff spot in the West.

Does it get any better than this?

Let's spend the Friday Five breaking down the key tilt.

1. Big players play big in big games

For me, this maxim boils down to one matchup: Javier Morales v. Pablo Mastroeni. Each player is the best player on his respective team and each must show it in order for his team to advance. Morales is a Best XI certainty – at least in this pundit's team – and ignites the RSL offense with his dynamic running and inspired vision. Mastroeni has snuffed out better players on higher levels.

2. Can RSL keep up its recent road form?

The Utahns boast a meager 2-9-3 road record on the season. Not exactly an inspiring case to make for picking up the draw they need in Colorado. Things are brighter if the team takes a short-term view. In its last four matches away from the Beehive State, RSL has picked up five points (1-1-2). For those counting, that's more than half of the team's total over the entire season.

3. Which hot forward will make his mark: Yura Movsisyan or Conor Casey?

Movisysan has scored three goals in his past four games as his plan to shoot on contact paid some dividends. For those counting, that's half of his total season output. Movsisyan had to pick up the slack for a misfiring Robbie Findley – who scored his first goal since July 28 in last weekend's 3-1 win to eliminate FC Dallas. Casey has scored five goals in his last three games and has tallied nine of his ten goals since July 12. The big, burly striker has received better service in recent weeks while showing the nose for goal that once had him tabbed as a future national team standout.

4. Will RSL expose the weak Colorado fullbacks?

RSL head coach Jason Kreis likes to play with a diamond in midfield and outside midfielders Dema Kovalenko and Will Johnson tucked inside rather than out wide on the touchline. That will suit Rapids head coach Gary Smith as Smith needs to protect Kosuke Kimura and Jordan Harvey from being exposed. Look for Johnson, Kovalenko and Morales to try to drift into the wide areas to avoid Mike Petke and Ugo Ihemelu in the center and exploit the dodgy fullback pairing.

5. Where will Cooke and Clark pop up?

RSL hasn't kept a shutout since late August. And Terry Cooke and Colin Clark get around better fullbacks than Ian Joy and Chris Wingert on a regular basis. The wide play is critical to suck Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave away from Casey and either Tom McManus or Omar Cummings in the middle of the field. Don't bet against either winger playing a vital role in this one.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and blogs frequently during the week for Goal.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kylemccarthy@gmail.com.

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