Colorado - Seattle - 4/20 - We Know What MLS Was Smoking

Trap Game!

Tomorrow the Sounders are in town to play the Rapids.  As long time readers of this blog know, games against Seattle hold a added importance to me due to it being my hometown and a number of my family members (Hi Anthony!, Hi Rob!) who are Sounders season ticket holders.  Game time tomorrow is at 4pm so the tailgate starts at 1pm with a double-theme of fish tacos and munchies.  For those watching on TV the game has been moved from Altitude to Altitude2 due to the Nuggets playoff game on Altitude.

A couple of important notes for this game.  This is likely to be Steve Zakuani's first playing time in Colorado since Mullan's tackle broke his name.  He'll probably start.  Also in the 26th minute there will be a minute of sustained applause from the Centennial 38 sections to honor the victims of the bombings in Boston.  26 because the bombs were exploded at the end of the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon.  Rapids fans (throughout the various forms of the supporters groups) have always had a good relationship with the Midnight Riders, the Revolution's supporters group.  Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis was at the finish line with his family and while he is fine his father-in-law is one of the victims in the hospital in critical condition.

Injury Report:

OUT:  FW Deshorn Brown (), DF Diego Calderon (R knee Surgery), MF Jaime Castrillon (R knee surgery), MF Kevin Harbottle (L strained MCL), GK Matt Pickens (L arm fracture)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (lower back pain), MF Nick LaBrocca (L groin tightness), MF Pablo Mastroeni (L quad strain), DF Brian Mullan (R foot pain), MF Martin Rivero (R foot fracture)

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificate

Buddle and Mullan are new additions to the Questionable list, but the big news is Deshorn Brown.  Chris Bianchi has tweeted he is out for tomorrow's game with more details to come.  That's a big loss going into the game.  Dillon Powers also needed stitches over his right eye after a collision in training today but it doesn't seem like it will keep him from playing tomorrow.  Seattle is missing one player due to injury and 3 others are questionable.  My guess at the starting XI:

This assumes Buddle, LaBroccca, and Mullan can go.  If they can't go I'd expect O'Neill in for Mullan with Wynne moving to right back, Cascio in for LaBrocca with Powers moving up, and maybe Hill or Smith in for Buddle with Mwanga as a lone striker and Hill/Smith and Harris on the wings in a 4-3-3/4-5-1.

Key To Look For: Defensive lock down.  Seattle has only scored 2 goals in 5 games so far, so they aren't yet dangerous but that will change eventually.  If Colorado can keep Seattle from figuring it out they can scrape by with a win even with their extremely weakened lineup.  Oh, and getting through a game without giving up a PK!

Prediction: 1-0 win, goal by Moor.  Drew redeems himself after the LA game by heading a free kick home and the Rapids keeps the Sounders attack puzzled for another week.  I wouldn't be shocked to see a 0-0 or 1-1 draw but I'm feeling optimistic.