We have waited a long time for this.
The July 4 game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a long-held, much-loved tradition for Colorado Rapids fans.
This year’s game had been a red ring on the calendar since early March and the announcement of the deal to bring Tim Howard back to MLS.
Since then the form of the Colorado Rapids has more than lived up to the occasion. Pablo Mastroeni’s men are (9-2-5) and top of the Supporters' Shield standings.
For this game, they can display their big guns for the first time. For various reasons—injury, suspension or international duty—Jermaine Jones, Shkëlzen Gashi, Marco Pappa and Kevin Doyle have never been available at the same time.
They are all in the squad for Independence Day.
Of course no one is guaranteed a place in this Rapids side. On the eve of the game even Howard was unsure he’d be starting given the fine form of Zac MacMath.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park will be bursting at the seams on Monday while long-standing supporters will be filled with pride that the “Secretary of Defense” chose to come to their team.
But Mastroeni will want the win. A club-record 11-game unbeaten run came to an end at Dallas in the U.S Open Cup.
Beating the reigning MLS Cup champions would be a fitting reposte.
OPPOSITION
Portland have moved quietly above the red line in the Western Conference with a five-game unbeaten run, however their strength has been at Providence Park.
They are 0-4-4 on the road this season, albeit with draws at Real Salt Lake and Chicago in their last two trips.
No MLS side has stopped them from scoring this season and, during that unbeaten quintet, the Timbers have scored a healthy 11 goals. Fernando Adi has nine goals so far this season while Deigo Valeri has seven. In comparison, no Rapids player has more than three.
Overall, Portland have outscored the Rapids 28-19 this season. The difference is the defense. Caleb Porter’s side has conceded almost three times that of Mastroeni’s—29 compared to 11.
Portland’s only victory at Dicks’ Sporting Goods Park came last season when Jack Jewsbury snatched a 93rd-minute winner on the break. Otherwise, the Rapids are 4-1-1 at home but Portland lead the series 6-5-2 overall.
Today would be a great day to tie it up.
MATCH INFO
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Injury Report
Rapids: Burling, Serna, St. Ledger (all knee)
Timbers: Kwarasey (finger)
Broadcast
TV: Altitude TV
Radio: Altitude950 and La Invasora
