Rapids Face Demons In Seattle

What's worse, Microsoft's or CLink's?

After back-to-back home wins the Rapids are in my hometown tomorrow night.  Of course the land of airplanes and coffee hasn't exactly been a hospitable place for Colorado.  In 11 games we have 1 draw and have been outscored 26-7.  Outside of new arrivals Orlando and NYCFC, Seattle is the only MLS city we've never won in.  Oh, and this time around we face the surface demon of grass laid over turf as Man U is playing their first friendly of the preseason tonight at Century Link against Club America.  Last time we played on that setup in Seattle Conor Casey blew out his Achilles.  Game time tomorrow is 8pm and Fleming and 'Celo have the call on Altitude.

Injury Report:

OUT: M Dillon Serna (back); F Luis Solignac (hamstring)

Discipline:

SUSPENDED: D Bobby Burling (yellow card accumulation)

ONE YELLOW FROM SUSPENSION: D Jared Watts (2 games left for good behavior reduction)

TWO YELLOWS FROM SUSPENSION: D Drew Moor; D James Riley; D Axel Sjoberg; M Sam Cronin; M Lucas Pittinari

International Absences:

F Gabriel Torres (Panama's Gold Cup squad)

Seattle is missing 5 players including both their big guns, Dempsey (Nats) and Martins (injury).  The Rapids will be forced to make two changes with the injury to Solignac and the suspension of Burling.  My guess at what Pablo will do:

I expect Pablo to go with a "If it ain't broke..." mentality and only make the two changes he's forced to.  Sjoberg is no longer on the injury report but I don't see him starting on the lousy surface coming back from a knee injury so O'Neill would be the option, possibly Greenspan.  Ramirez would be the natural choice to start in Solignac's place but my bet is that Pablo goes with Eloundou after his performance last week (though I think he's better coming off the bench).

Strategic Consideration: Take their forwards out of the game.  They have struggled to score since they lost Dempsey and Martins.  Keeping the replacements quiet will go a long way into getting a result.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Doyle.  I can't predict a win until they actually get on in Seattle but I think we can get out with a point.  The missing players and the ugly surface will be the equalizers.