Platte River Derby Tomorrow Night & Player Moves

Before we get to the abbreviated game preview for tomorrow night's Open Cup match the Rapids made two roster moves in the last 24 hours.  First, before the window closed last night, Colorado made a deal to bring Danny Leyva on loan from Seattle until the summer window opens on July 5th, with the option to extend the loan until the end of the season.  There is no option to acquire him permanently in the deal.  In exchange the Sounders will get $95K in GAM and our 3rd round pick in 2025 (assuming the 3rd round still exists in 2025).

Leyva is a defensive midfielder that is stuck behind at least a couple of top players in Seattle, but is good enough to be getting time in MLS.  He's been on the fringes of the U.S. U-20 team and is likely hoping to show himself off in the hopes of making the World Cup squad later this year.  He's also eligible to play for Mexico if he files for a one-time switch.  Presumably the Rapids see him as filling some of the hole Price's injury has left in in front of the back line.  The short length of the loan is unusual though, but the Rapids felt that with only 12 games left in league play once the window opens this summer they had to make a move now.

That statement, given to Brenden Ploen of the Post, says more about the Rapids goals than anything we've seen this year.  They openly acknowledge that there are only 12 games left (about a third of the season) once the window opens, yet they didn't really solve our left back or striker issue in the window that closed last night (Gersbach does not appear to be an answer).  And those 12 games don't include the Leagues Cup competition, but those games weren't even mentioned in the statement, which suggests they aren't going to be a concern for the club.  Its harder and hard to expect anything out of the Rapids in 2023.

Today Colorado also signed Rapids 2 midfielder Marlon Vargas to a short-term deal as allowed under the roster rules.  This is very likely to allow him to play in tomorrow night's Open Cup match.  I wouldn't expect to see him in the 18 for any MLS league matches.

Speaking of tomorrow night, the newly named Platte River Derby will mark the first matchup between the Northern Colorado Hailstorm and the Colorado Rapids first team (Rapids 2 have played the Hailstorm in each of their two preseasons).  The winner gets a trip to the 4th round of the Open Cup.  The Rapids haven't won an Open Cup game since their victory over Oklahoma City in 2017, having lost to USL Nashville in 2018, USL New Mexico in 2019, and Minnesota United in the 4th round last year (we got a by to the 4th round due to qualifying for the CCL).  They haven't beaten a MLS side in thje Open Cup proper since beating the Fire...in 2006.

Its always tough to predict the lineup for these early round games.  I fully expect Ilic to get the start in net, but otherwise we could see a real mixed lineup.  If Bombito or Keita are healthy I'd expect them to start at CB, we could see Anderson and Gersbach at the outside back positions, and I'd expect to see Harris in attack, probably along with Yapi.  Vargas will likely get a start as wekk, and Leyva could easily be on the bench.

I'm going to predict a 2-1 in for the Rapids, no offense intended to the Hailstorm but MLS backups should be at least USL League One quality.  If they aren't they shouldn't be on a MLS roster.  The winner of this match will hold bragging rights to the Centennial State.  Both teams have beaten the Switchbacks twice in Open Cup play, so the victor will be able to claim a clean sweep to the state with an undefeated record.