Colorado Rapids vs FC Cincinnati
MLS Regular Season, Week 14
June 1, 2019 - 6:30 PM
DICK'S Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, Colorado

An adventure into the thin air...

Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the Colorado Rapids and expansion side FC Cincinnati. It was announced last May that the Ohio-based franchise would become Major League Soccer's 26th club. They played their inaugural MLS game on March 2 against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field which saw the new side fall 4-1. Since then, Cincinnati has continued to have a rough go, currently finding themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with a 3-9-2 overall record. The expansion side has scored just three goals in their last eight games (1-7-0), including being held scoreless in six of those games.

"They (the Rapids) are a good team," FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell told media this week. "They've got good players and are a team that you can't not focus on. We're going to have a big challenge this weekend."

Difference makers off the bench...

The Rapids will conclude a busy three-game stretch Saturday against FC Cincinnati and have found a run of good form going three games unbeaten. One trend to note over the previous three games - each saw a Rapids player come off the bench to score a goal, two of them proving to be game-winners. Andre Shinyashiki, Nicolás Mezquida and Jonathan Lewis have embraced the super-sub role in recent weeks with each featuring in the starting lineup and as crucial attacking options of the bench. This has provided interim head coach Conor Casey loads of flexibility (and confidence) in the way he chooses to approach each situation. 

Goals scored by subs in 2019:

What to watch for...

Jordan Angeli, Radio Analyst

FC Cincinnati arrive with a week of rest while the Rapids will be just three days out from their last game - a hard-fought draw against Philadelphia. For Cincinnati, it's been an interesting first year with some big wins early and then a slide as of late. With a coaching change the week after the Rapids, FC Cincinnati is still looking to define who they are as a team. Coming in to this match, Cincinnati has captured just one win in the last five games.

On the flip side, the Rapids are on a good run of form and I’m feeling it for a couple reasons: 1. They have a freedom going forward that we haven't seen in quite some time. Part of this freedom comes from the confidence and flexibility as noted above. 2. Rest and depth. To get a point against Philadelphia with some regular starters missing goes to show how much depth this team actually has. The players who were able to rest should impact the game Saturday night. 3. Confidence. From the leadership of Lalas Abubakar in the back line, to the goal scoring and assists from key attackers, this is a squad who has believed in themselves throughout and they are starting to reap some of the benefits.

Protect your home turf, go out and make a statement. I anticipate the Rapids showing up with some fire on Saturday.

Connor Cape, Radio Play-by-Play Announcer

Three matches unbeaten, two of them away, and the Rapids are playing their best soccer of 2019 after getting a result with a rotated side in Philadelphia. 

There’s a chance to add to the point total against FC Cincinnati this weekend and the timing couldn’t be better. Typically, three games in a week proves to be challenging but the current form the Rapids are in, the squad wants to play as often as possible and stay in the groove. Fatigue affects everyone but it’s certainly easier to power through it when you’re accumulating points. Saturday against MLS-newcomers FC Cincinnati is nothing but an opportunity to stay hot.