Short-Handed Rapids Hope To Short Dynamo

 

Water and Electricity Don't Mix

Sorry for the lack of anything but previews/reviews lately.  big project at work finally finished today so I'll hopefully have more brain cycles to dedicate to writing.  Look for a post either tomorrow or early next week about this year's USA Pro Challenge route.

Sunday the Rapids are in Houston to face one half of the former C+C Goal Factory, Omar Cummings, and the rest of the Dynamo.  Tough game right now given our injury situation.  Game time is 3pm MDT and the game is on Altitude in the Denver area and UniMas nationally.  Smaller more localized viewing parties for the first nice weekend of the spring.

Injury Report:

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

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificate

Please welcome our newest contestant to the Rapids Injury Report, Marvell Wynne!  Ouch.  Pablo and Rivero both traveled with the team and are hopeful to be in the 18 but obviously won't start.  Brown did not travel.  No report either way on Buddle.  Houston has a player suspended, 3 Out, and 3 Questionable.  My guess at the starting XI:

If Buddle can't go we'll probably see Mwanga again, hopefully he's better than last week.  There's some talk that Hill could start over Cascio but I'll believe it when I see it.  I highly doubt Smith starts given Pareja's use of him over the last 40+ games.

Key To Look For: Can we score more than 1?  We've only done it once this season and I think we'll need more than 1 to get a point in Houston.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Powers.  Houston is too good for this banged up Colorado team.  A long shot from Powers makes it interesting but in the end Houston's quality takes it.