Colorado Rapids vs New York City FC
MLS Regular Season, Week 20
July 20, 2019 - 7:00 PM
DICK'S Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, Colorado
The Youth Movement is Real
Though it feels like a lifetime ago given the momentous Arsenal affair that followed it, it has only been a week since the Rapids went to Portland and came away with a 2-2 draw. That game highlighted some of the prodigious talents on this Colorado roster that the club will lean on for the rest of 2019. Look no further than Sam Nicholson’s brilliant solo goal in the 76th minute.
Of the stunning shot, Nicholson told the Denver Post “Yeah, I’ve been practicing that in training a lot and normally I sail it over the bar,” he said. “I’ve been working on my left foot since I was a boy because I’m a righty.”
In addition to Nicholson’s play, it was another of the Rapids young upstarts that found the net: Jonathan Lewis. The 22-year-old forward wasted no time in his return to the team from international duty, splitting the opposition’s goalkeeper and defender with a strike off of a deflected cross by Kei Kamara. It gives Lewis three goals in his five regular competition matches with Rapids since being traded from… none other than NYCFC. It’ll be exciting to see the energy that the forward brings for this revenge match against his former club.
Can't count out NYCFC
NYCFC is coming off of a loss last Sunday against their in-state rivals, the New York Red Bulls, in the Hudson River Derby on Sunday, July 14. Their early run of form has slowed down in recent weeks, as they also suffered a loss at home against the Timbers on July 7th and were eliminated from Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition by Orlando City on July 10th.
Additionally, the club will be missing their captain midfielder, Alexander Ring, and key central back, Maxine Chanot, due to yellow card accumulation. Fortunately for fans of the Bronx club, manager Dome Torrent told media Wednesday that their blossoming homegrown center back, James Sands, should be available after missing several months with a broken arm.
Player to watch: Maxi Moralez has certainly made his presence known since arriving in New York in 2017. The reigning MLS Player of the Month scored three goals and tallied six assists in just three regular competition matches in June. Now with 12 assists on the season, he’s tied with MVP-frontrunner Carlos Vela for the most in MLS. If the Rapids defense can throttle the pesky Argentinian, they’ll be in great shape to come away with three points in Saturday’s match.
What to watch for...
Connor Cape, Radio Play-by-Play Announcer
After a 2-2 draw on the road in one of the fiercest venues in North American sports, the Rapids return home to host NYCFC. The Pigeons have been nothing if not consistent, boasting eight draws and only three losses on the season. They'll be difficult to break down and they'll be difficult to keep off the board.
But these matches are played on the margins. Can the Rapids win a few more 50/50 balls, make that extra effort to track a runner in the box and place a key pass or cross right on a dime? The difference between three, one and zero points in this match will be determined by which side is able to give it that little bit of extra effort and make a match-deciding play.
