Last Shot At First Place

Currently the Rapids are 6 points back of Seattle with 5 games to play.  A loss or draw tomorrow night means there are 4 games left and we have to make up at least 1.5 PPG.  That's not happening.  A win at least puts first place still in play, making up 3 points in 4 games is possible.  Anything less than a win and we need to start thikning about 2nd place (and holding off Portland for 3rd).

Oh, and our former player, Nicolas Benezet, just added some fuel to the fire.  He "can't wait to play in front of his ex-fans".  Well, that Rapids reject will be lucky if Lalas doesn't put him on his ass in the first few minutes.  Kickoff for this suddenly spicy match is at 7pm tomorrow at the Dick.

No update on injuries from the team yet:  EDIT: No injuries listed in the media game notes

Disciplinary Report:

SUSPENDED: F Diego Rubio (yellow card accumulation) 

ONE CAUTION FROM SUSPENSION: M Collen Warner

TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: D Lalas Abubakar, D Danny Wilson, M Braian Galvan

Missing Rubio isn't the worst thing in the world, he hasn't exactly set the world on fire this season.  Otherwise we should be at full strength.

The back 4 could be mixed up by Trusty starting and one of the three not named Rosenberry sitting, but otherwise I think that's the likely look.  I really hope we go with this 4 man backline, there's no point in playing one of the front 6 out of position or sitting one of them to play Galvan to force the 5-4-1.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Barrios.  Sadly I don't think the Rapids have it in them to make the West a race after what happened Saturday.  Seattle is a better team at this point, especially when the going gets tough (they're 0.5 PPG better against playoff teams than we are).  Colorado will put up a good fight but in the end the focus should be on 2nd, and holding on to 3rd, which makes next Saturday's match the most important one left on the schedule.  Beating Portland should all but lock in hosting in the first round and avoiding a trip to Seattle in the second round.