Having put a sizable dent in Montreal Impact’s playoff hopes last weekend, the Colorado Rapids will seek to serve a blow to the postseason ambitions of FC Dallas when the Western Conference sides meet at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday (TICKETS).
For eighth-placed Dallas, this will be their game in hand on the two teams immediately above, San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake. Oscar Pareja’s team have 42 points from 31 games, but are below the Quakes and RSL due to fewer games won. (STANDINGS)
Though it could be argued the Dallas cause is a greater motivator, the Rapids have numerous reasons to be up for this one, among them the fact that this is their game in hand over LA Galaxy. A win for Steve Cooke’s team would create a three-point gap between themselves and the league’s bottom side.
The Rapids will also be mindful that it was the 2-0 loss at FC Dallas last week (September 27) which mathematically eliminated the Colorado club from playoff contention.
This is a fourth meeting between these two teams in 2017, but the first in Commerce City. The previous three have been at Toyota Stadium, and included defeat in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Though the Rapids did tie 0-0 in Frisco in mid-August, they were undone by early goals in the most recent affair, as Dallas snapped a 10-game winless streak with that aforementioned 2-0 win.
Dallas were unbeaten in their opening four road games, with wins at the Galaxy and RSL. In the 11 away games since, they are 1-7-3. The last win on their travels came in Montreal on July 22. Last Saturday’s goalless draw in Orlando was their first road point in six attempts.
The Rapids, meanwhile, will be desperate to build on the win over Montreal, which was their first at home in five attempts.
Both sides will be minus players away on international duty. The Rapids are without Tim Howard (USA) and Mekeil Williams (Trinidad and Tobago), with Dallas missing Kellyn Acosta (USA) and Maynor Figueroa (Honduras). That should mean a return for Zac MacMath in goal, while Mike da Fonte could find himself starting a second successive game.
TEAM NEWS
Rapids:Micheal Azira (questionable - ankle), Tim Howard (out - international duty), Mekeil Williams (out - international duty)
Dallas: Kellyn Acosta (out - international duty), Maynor Figueroa (out - international duty)
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Altitude
Radio: Altitude 950; La Invasora 87.7FM (Spanish)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant (bench): Gianni Facchini
Assistant (opposite): Craig Lowry
Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
