Friday, May 22, 2009

Colorado looking to roast the Pigs

Sounder (disambiguation)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sounder may refer to:

* Sounder, a group of domestic pigs foraging in woodland

The Rapids host the expansion Seattle Sounders tomorrow night at the Dick. This is the first time the Rapids have faced the Sounders as a MLS team, the last time the teams played (in a very forgettable USOC game) the Sounders were in USL-1. Game time is at 7:30 pm and its Asia-Pacific Heritage Night. To celebrate Chef Nate will be making up some Asian dishes at the pre-game tailgate.

Official Injury Report:
OUT: GK Steward Ceus (R meniscus tear/surgery)

Official Discipline Report:
TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs

The Sounders are missing 5 players, plus a 6th is probable. This includes their Designated Player Freddie Ljundberg who is missing his second game to due migraines. My guess on the Rapids starting 11:

Pickens
Kimura - Ihemelu - Gibbs - Harvey
Pablo
Cooke - LaBrocca - Clark
Cummings - Casey

Terry Cooke has returned to the team after flying to England to visit his 10-year old son who was in a serious car accident. Assuming that Cookie is fully recovered from the ordeal I expect they'll return to the starting lineup and LaBrocca will move back inside and displace Ballouchy. I'm not sure if Ihemelu will start int he middle or if he'll shift outside to Kimura's spot and Palguta will get the start. Since its Asia-Pacific Heritage Night I'm going to go with Kimura starting. ;)

Key To Look For:

The Rapids offense vs. Kasey Keller. The Rapids have to find a way to score against the best goalkeeper in American history (sorry Brad), who's proven that he can still play and is leading the league in Goals Against Average. The only way that's going to happen is getting numerous opportunities and making Keller finally concede. The good news is that the Sounders defense is beat up, and Casey has been hot so the Rapids should get their chances.

Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Conor Casey and Terry Cooke. I'm going out on a limb on this one, but I think this is the game where the Rapids show that they aren't the same old Rapids. Seattle is beat and is coming back to earth off their hot start, while the Rapids will take advantage of being at home. Casey continues his hot streak, and Cookie is in the right spot to clean up a loose ball.

5 comments:

Rob said...

sounders 'til i die. you had better get it done against a beat up expansion team...predication: 1-1 tie. goal by nate jaqua. go sounders!

Antoncich sensei said...

I have a soccer-crush on Jaqua. I'd love to see a 1-1 tie, but I think it will be Montero's goal (though without Evans or Lundberg he might have a bit of a tough time.) Friendly wager, Cousin? Like...if the Sounders win, you have to wear a Sounders t-shirt at Christmas this year?

Jason Maxwell said...

Well alas I didn't see this until after the game, but with the draw it wouldn't have mattered. Also we're in Florida for Christmas this year anyway.

rob said...

ok, so we were both right - jaqua and montero with goals.

assuming you will have a write-up of the game. in all honesty, if im colorado, i think i let one slip away. no alsonso, ljungberg, evans and at home.

also, any word on a shirt sponsor?

Jason Maxwell said...

You two correctly predicted a draw, but I correctly predicted the Rapids would get 2 past Keller, 1 of which would be Casey.

The broadcast off the FSL game 2 weeks ago said that the Rapids were in negotiations with 2 companies on shirt sponsorship but that's the last we've ehard.