As the Colorado Rapids set their sights on a second successive road game, a third outing in a week, and the 25th contest of the regular season, the aim remains the same - victory.
The 2-1 reversal at Providence Park, Portland, on Wednesday extended the Rapids’ run without success to seven games (0-4-3), and they next tackle a Real Salt Lake side that has suffered just one defeat in eight.
Former Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman will be absent for the hosts. He collected a booking in midweek during the 4-0 home win over San Jose Earthquakes, and will therefore watch from the stands as he serves a suspension.
But RSL still possess plenty of punch, having put six past LA, and four beyond both Portland and the Quakes during this recent rosy run.
Still searching for a first point under Interim Head Coach Steve Cooke, the Rapids have promised in both games under the Englishman, yet ultimately faltered in the final third. They have shown a decent dose of aggression in the attacking areas, but managed only the one goal for their troubles.
Cooke made six changes to his starting lineup for the match in Portland, as the quick turnaround demanded the need for fresh legs. Expect more of the same as the Rapids roll into Rio Tinto, with the likes of Shkelzen Gashi, Nana Boateng, Axel Sjoberg, Dominique Badji, and Marlon Hairston waiting in the wings.
This is the second meeting of 2017 between these teams, having previously played one another on April 15. RSL came from behind to inflict a first regular season home loss on the Rapids since the end of the 2015 campaign. The Rapids had rarely looked in trouble during the game until a needless freekick was given away five minutes from time, from which Jared Watts handled in the area. He was dismissed, before RSL leveled from the spot, and then rubbed Real salt in the wounds with an 88th minute winner.
Entering the weekend, the Rapids (22) are 13 points adrift of the playoff places. Both Vancouver Whitecaps FC (35) and FC Dallas (36) play before the game in Utah, at Columbus Crew SC and Orlando City SC respectively. For the Rapids, though - as the well-worn cliché suggests - control the controllable. It’s high-time they wrestle back the initiative.
TEAM NEWS
Rapids: Zac MacMath (out - knee)
RSL: Jordan Allen (out - knee), Chad Barrett (out - knee), Kyle Beckerman (out - suspended), Omar Holness (out - knee), Demar Phillips (questionable - hamstring), Marcelo Silva (questionable - hamstring), Matt VanOekel (questionable - ankle), Ricardo Velazco (out - ankle)
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Altitude
Radio: Altitude 950; La Invasora 87.7FM (Spanish)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Assistant (bench): Jose Da Silva
Assistant (opposite): Nick Uranga
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
VAR: Victor Rivas
