Rapids Hope To Go Boom On The Fourth!

Bellingham Bay, WA fireworks, same ones we saw 16 years ago at our wedding reception

The annual Independence Day game tomorrow with the Columbus Crew as the opponent.  With the post-game fireworks the kickoff will be at 7:30pm instead of the normal 7pm.  That means the tailgate starts at 4:30 and its not in its normal spot due to preparations for the World Lacrosse Championships that start next week.  Instead its in the SE corner of Lot G (essentially West 2 lots from our normal spot) as seen here.  The 4th of July game is always a sellout so expect jammed packed parking lots and get there early.  Those of you who can't make it can watch on Altitude.

Injury Report:

OUT: MF Jose Mari (sprained ankle)

Disciplinary Report:

SUSPENDED AFTER ONE YELLOW: MF Nick LaBrocca (3 games left for good behavior reduction)

As of the last injury report update a week ago Columbus had 4 players listed as out.  They also have 2 players on the Costa Rican national team that will be playing the Dutch in the World Cup Quarterfinals on Saturday.  My guess at our starting XI :

Pretty much if its not broken, don't fix it.  Maybe we see Serna instead of Hill or something, but I would expect basically the same 11 we say Saturday night against the Whitecaps.

Strategic Consideration: Use the crowd!  After being pretty successful on the 4th at Mile High and Invesco Field the Rapids have had a mixed bag at the Dick with 2 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses all time.  Not the way you want to perform in front of the biggest crowd of the year.  They need to feed off the energy and put Columbus away.

Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Sanchez and Brown.  I expect the Rapids to have a dominant performance tomorrow night the way they've been playing.  Plenty of rest, almost all the first team starters available, and a team that has been struggling, especially defensively on the road (11 goals allowed in 8 games).