Real Salt Lake: Goalkeeper suffers streak-ending hand injury

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Nick Rimando played every minute of every game last year, but that string of consecutive minutes came to a bloody end Saturday night.

The Real Salt Lake keeper was replaced in the 33rd minute after suffering a deep laceration on his left middle finger after his hand was stepped on in a scrum in front of the box. The cut to the bone prevented Rimando from continuing, enabling third-string keeper Kyle Reynish to make his professional debut.

Reynish got the nod because back-up Chris Seitz is on a three-day loan with the Portland Timbers of the United Soccer Leagues. Seitz started in Portland's 0-0 draw with Carolina on Thursday, and he again got the starting nod for Saturday night's game with Carolina.

Reynish made one save in his debut, but also surrendered a goal.

Rimando needed four stitches to fix the cut, and he guessed the injury would likely keep him out two to three weeks.

With a Wednesday and a Saturday game on the docket for RSL next week, Seitz and Reynish will be battling it out for playing time in training next week.

"It's always competitive between us. Chris is a very good goalie, I'm not sure how it will shake down, but I'll obviously be ready," said Reynish.

A LEG UP: Colorado gained the early advantage in the quest for the Rocky Mountain Cup with Saturday's 2-0 victory.

The Rocky Mountain Cup is awarded to the winner of RSL-Colorado season series each year. The Rapids claimed the Cup in 2005 and 2006, but RSL is the current holder, having won in 2007 and 2008. Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman has been on the winning side all four years, with a midseason trade sending him from Colorado to Salt Lake in 2007.

The Rocky Mountain Cup rivals meet two more times this season, both in Utah. They square off at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 6 and then wrap up the season series in the regular-season finale on Oct. 24.

RARE RED CARD: Despite all of the drama in the brief yet intense RSL-Colorado rivalry, Jamison Olave's red card Saturday was just the second in 16 meetings.

Back in May of 2006, Real Salt Lake's Atiba Harris was sent off in the 82nd minute after picking up his second yellow card in a 2-2 draw. Olave's red card, however, was a straight red for his dangerous challenge on Conor Casey.

RSL coach Jason Kreis said he thought the decision was a bit harsh, but added, "if you go into tackles with two feet, you're putting yourself at the judgement of the referees, and we all know how consistent those judgements are."

Real Salt Lake was only shown three red cards all last season, with the honors going to Andy Williams, Chris Wingert and Ian Joy.

A NON-FACTOR: For the first time this season, midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy was not in the Colorado Rapids' starting lineup, as he was replaced by Nick LaBrocca.