Rapids Welcome Under-A-Chivas For Memorial Day

TRAP!

The Rapids are back home for a 3 game home stand, interrupted for the international weekend on June 8th.  A sell-out crowd is expected tomorrow to see Colorado take on Chivas USA.  A sell-out mainly because of a massive tournament weekend on the field complex at the Dick, so plan accordingly when it comes to parking.  The tailgate will start at 4pm for the 7pm kickoff with the game on Altitude for those who can't make it.

Injury Report:

OUT:  DF Diego Calderon (R knee Surgery), GK Matt Pickens (L arm fracture)
QUESTIONABLE: MF Jaime Castrillon (R knee surgery), MF Jaime Smith (R groin strain), MF Hendry Thomas (L hamstring strain)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: DF Shane O'Neill (Red card vs. San Jose)
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOWS: MF Hendry Thomas

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificates

Probably the shortest injury report we've had all season, with only two players completely unavailable due to injury.  I doubt we see Castrillon or Thomas, and Smith at best only as a sub.  Chivas hasn't posted an updated injury report since the beginning of the month, but I don't remember then having significant injuries.  My guess at the starting XI:

O'Neill's suspension brings Wynne back to the center with Mullan re-taking the right back role.  Buddle, unsuspended, and Powers, now healthy, go right back into the XI.  Sturgis is the only real question mark, Pablo could take his place.

Key To Look For: Dominating a game we should dominate.  All but 1 game this season has been decided by 1 goal.  This game shouldn't be.  Colorado beat Chivas in LA, and Chivas has gotten worse while Colorado has gotten better since then.

Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Brown and Buddle.  I almost pushed it to 3 goals, as Chivas has been being burned by speed like Brown's in recent weeks, but the Rapids struggles offensively will keep the game closer than it should be.  Should the Rapids avoid the mental trap of this game, Brown and Buddle will feast on the Chivas 3-man high line and Colorado will never be in danger of losing.