Andres Gomez Puts Real Salt Lake On Top In Rocky Mountain Cup Decider

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – A lot was riding on Real Salt Lake‘s match against Colorado on Saturday but Andres Gomez showed that he thrives under pressure.

It didn’t even take ten minutes for the 21-year-old to find the back of the net and give Real an early 1-0 lead.

GOMEZ PUTS RSL UP EARLY ‼️#COLvRSL #RSL #RSLonKSL @rslshow

pic.twitter.com/GJp0thGqtJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 21, 2024

Off a pass from Bryan Oviedo, Gomez pushed up the pitch with Anderson Julio by his side.

Julio got off to a hot start, testing Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the fifth minute.

However, Gomez called his own number and loaded up from long range. The shot was just out of Steffen’s reach as it snuck past the post.

9′ | GOALMEZZZZ#COLVRSL | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/4QhKRW5Fxh

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 21, 2024

Gomez has been on a tear all year long and he always seems to score timely goals. RSL needed early momentum on the road and he provided just that.

Through 22 games, Gomez has 12 goals and 8 assists.

RSL Looks For Fourth-Straight Rocky Mountain Cup

Real has dominated the club’s biggest rivalry in recent years, claiming the Rocky Mountain Cup in seven of the last eight seasons.

However, this year has looked a bit different.

Colorado defeated RSL at America First Field in March. The rivalry loss must have hurt as the club went on a franchise-record 15-game unbeaten streak over the next three months.

When the two clubs met again, Real scored a season-best five goals to get some home redemption. In that game, the Rapids led 3-2 in the 84th before RSL rattled off three goals in 10 minutes.

Everything about our lil bros#COLvRSL | @EnglandLogistic pic.twitter.com/hw9gLNiY3w

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 19, 2024

With the trophy on the line, Real Salt Lake will face Colorado on their side of the Rocky Mountains for the first time this season.

As things stand before matchday 28, RSL holds the third spot in the West with a record of 12-4-8. They sit two points behind the LA Galaxy in first and are six points from dropping down to fourth.

Colorado lost to the Galaxy on Wednesday and now holds the fifth rank in the conference with a record of 11-9-5.

There is still a path for Real to regain the top spot in the West going into Leagues Cup. If Portland can top the Galaxy and Seattle beats LAFC, RSL just needs to defeat the Rapids.

.@LAGalaxy move into that top spot in the Western Conference. 📈 pic.twitter.com/qgUVrqEbOf

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 18, 2024

However, RSL will be without its top contributor both in Colorado and to start Leagues Cup.

Star striker Chicho Arango is serving a four-game suspension and will be eligible to return against the Houston Dynamo on Monday, August 5.

RELATED: Real Salt Lake Star Chicho Arango To Serve Four-Game Suspension

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on Twitter @CHoltSports or on Threads @chandlerho1t.

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