Colorado Rapids vs Montreal Impact
MLS Regular Season, Week 22
August 3, 2019 - 7:00 PM
DICK'S Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, Colorado

Homegrowns gain national recognition

There’s no clearer indication of success for the Rapids' youth movement than to have one of the club's players get selected to the MLS Homegrown Game. This past Tuesday, the Rapids sent not one, but two delegates in midfielder Cole Bassett and defender Sam Vines to the exhibition in Orlando against the Chivas U-20 side. The friendly saw contributions from both, with Vines and Bassett converting their chances as the game went to penalties to give the Homegrown side the victory. Making the quick turnaround that the life of a professional athlete requires, both Vines and Bassett should be available to play Saturday against Montreal.

"It’s great for them individually and it shows the progress they (Vines and Bassett) have made over the last couple of years, Casey said. “It shows on what we have been able to do with our Academy and our Homegrowns."

Also to be recognized, 16-year-old defender Sebastian Anderson was called up to US U-17 camp ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil last week. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for the youngest player ever to play for the Rapids senior team. The Highlands Ranch native will be away from Colorado until August 7.

The next Scandinavian star?

Club debuts are always anticipated events for players, fans and broadcasters alike.  When that occasion is marked by a player scoring on his first possession, the hype train is sure to follow. That’s exactly what 20-year-old Finnish winger Lassi Lappalainen did for Montreal in his MLS debut against Philadelphia last week. Both in terms of his play on the pitch and his new club’s recent form, the timing comes at a much-needed moment..

The past month has not been kind to fans of the Quebec club. With four straight losses (@ATL, MIN, TOR, @CLB) coming into last week’s match, Montreal was in danger of falling out of the playoff picture and needed to put together a good showing for the fans at Stade Saputo. With their backs against the wall, they did that and more as the Impact notched an impressive 4-0 victory over none other than the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union.

While perspicacious Montreal fans will give due diligence to fellow youngster Oriji Okwonko’s two-goal performance or the impact (pun fully intended) that All-Star midfielder Ignacio Piatti’s return made on the lineup after nine weeks out with a knee injury, this night was all about Lassi Lappalainen. Acquired only a week ago on loan from Montreal’s Italian sibling club, Bologna, Lappalainen obviously impressed Impact coach Remi Garde and his coaching staff enough that they slotted him in the starting lineup of such an important match. The young Finn rewarded that trust with two magnificent goals in the 4th and 46th minutes, and, perhaps more importantly, injecting a renewed energy in a club that desperately needed it.

For his efforts, Lappalainen was awarded the MLS Player of the Week award. The last player to win the award in his MLS debut? Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And the ability to score in bunches isn’t the only trait that the two share. In a press conference following the game, Lappalainen explained that he doesn’t get nervous before matches, a soundbyte straight out of the Book of Zlatan. Keep an eye on this kid; this could be the birth of a new Scandinavian superstar.

What to watch for...

Connor Cape, Radio Play-by-Play Announcer

Summer swoon. Every team in MLS is going to hit a patch of games where they don't play their best, drop points and look for answers. It's an annual summer swoon, and after two defeats in a row, the Rapids might just be in the middle of their own. The Earthquakes took the fight to the Rapids in the opening seconds, forcing an own goal, and everything was disjointed after that. In this league, sometimes that's just the way it goes.

The good news is summer slumps leave as fast as they arrive. With two home games to begin August, the Rapids can put this behind them and pick up points without leaving home. To bust out of the doldrums, Colorado will host the Montreal Impact. IMFC are playing playoff soccer right now and what better opponent to find your form and confidence against than one above the playoff line?

Jordan Angeli, Radio Analyst

A two-game home stretch is just what the Rapids need. First up is the Montreal Impact. The Rapids were unable to follow a red-hot June with consistent success in July and are looking to start another streak on Saturday.

Off of the loss in San Jose, I thought when Acosta was on the ball he dictated the pace of the game. He will be essential for the Rapids this weekend as his late runs into the box could be a threat when paired with the pace on the wing in the form of Lewis, Nicholson or Shinyashiki. I’m hoping to see late midfield runs to help balance the attack in the final third. With all that said, as mentioned above, new Finnish winger Lappalainen is one to keep an eye on. He made his debut last weekend and made an immediate difference. The Rapids need to add pressure to him on the left wing and also be aware of his eagerness will be important in denying him looks on goal.