Torres To Debut Against Vancouver

Torres to start tomorrow?

Tomorrow is the first of three big games against the Whitecaps in the final nine games of the season.  It will also be the first appearance of the Rapids first ever Designated Player, Gabriel Torres.  Torres and Pareja both said today that Torres is ready to play 90 minutes so I expect him to start.  Game time tomorrow is 7:30 so the tailgate starts at 4:30.  For those of you who can't make it, Altitude will be carrying the game.

Injury Report:

OUT: DF Diego Calderon (R knee surgery); DF Brian Mullan
QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L hamstring strain); FW Atiba Harris (R quad strain); DF Kory Kindle (L ankle sprain)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: FW Tony Cascio
SUSPENDED AFTER ONE YELLOW; DF Shane O'Neill; MF Nathan Sturgis
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOWS: MF Dillon Powers;

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificate

Mullan on the OUT list is unexpected, though I'm not sure he would have been named int he 18 anyway.  Vancouver is only down 3 players to injury, and Miller is expected back from his injury, which is not good news for the Rapids given his history against the team.  My guess at our XI:

Its hard to know for sure how quickly Pareja will work Torres and Sanchez into the lineup and Rivero back from injury, but I'm thinking we may see all 3 of them in the lineup tomorrow.  With Buddle, Harris, and Cascio injured or suspended there are pretty of openings in the lineup.  Castrillon and Sturgis would be the obvious starters if one of those three aren't starting.  In the back I expect the Mera experiment is over again for now.

Key To Look For: Integration.  Odds are that there are going to be a few new players tomorrow, how are they going to work their way into the team?

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Torres and Brown.  Torres gets an assist on Brown's goal.  This is a huge game for the Rapids that they have to win.  We're getting attacking help just as we need it and we're going to put it to good use.  Vancouver will burn us for a goal but it won't be enough.