Bryce Canyon National Park
Tomorrow night is the last home league match for 5 weeks as the front-loaded schedule and the Leagues Cup cause a long break. (The Rapids will be home on 7/31 and 8/3 for the Leagues Cup). The home side is in desperate need of points and face the best team in the West and 3rd best in the Shield standings (by PPG). We were in Vancouver two months ago suffering a 2-0 loss. The good news is that Vancouver has a lot of games on their legs since then with their best players just getting back from the Gold Cup. Kickoff for this one is the normal 7:30.
Two quick roster notes. First the Rapids appealed Travis' red card from Wednesday night, the appeal was apparently denied as he's still listed as out. IMO that was always a long shot. Secondly Connor Ronan got his green card this week which frees up an international slot going into the summer transfer window.
Player Availability:
OUT: D Jackson Travis (red card); M Wayne Frederick (hip), M Alex Harris (ankle)
That's the best availability report we've seen in a while. Both Steffen and Vines are apparently available. Cabral is one yellow from suspension but otherwise everyone else is in the clear.
This predicted lineup feels a bit more "what I would do" and less "what I expect Armas to do" than normal. I don't think you need to rush Vines back from a groin injury for this one and risk him being out longer, especially since we've got 7 games in 29 days starting tomorrow. And yes, I intentionally didn't put Bassett into the starting XI, I don't think he should be starting right now.
Prediction: 1-0 loss. Steffen being back improves our defense but our offense still sputters against the second best defense in the league. If we couldn't score except by PK against a bottom 5 defense last time we were at home I can't predict we score against this defense.
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