Last Stand Time

The situation is simple, a loss tomorrow and Portland (and possibly FSL and/or San Diego) are within 2 points while we're in a death spiral with our last 4 games against teams in the top 4 of their respective conferences.  A win and that might just be enough cushion to claim a wild card spot with an outside chance of hosting the match.  A draw and everyone finishes annoyed (and FSL and San Diego might get within 3).  Kickoff in Oregon is at 8:30 MT.  Hopes may be dashed by 9.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (shoulder), D Reggie Cannon (leg), M Ali Fadal (torso), M Youssef Maziz (leg), F Sayed Abu Farkhi (suspension)

QUESTIONABLE: GK Nico Hansen (hip), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder)

Atencio and Yapi are on yellow card watch.  None of that is good.  Cannon has been down graded, Hansen picked up an injury, and we already talked about the idiocy that was Farkhi on Wednesday.

I know Georgi scored on Wednesday, but Phillip scored in the 3 before that so I think he gets the nod.  Otherwise this a fairly obvious lineup where you have to have a win.  Obviously if Hansen can go he will, I just assumed he won't be able to.

Prediction: 2-1 loss.  Goal by Aaronson.  I just can't predict anything but a loss on the road at this point.  Especially given our injury situation.  Portland has actually won half its home games and only lost four of them, though the last two were to the awful Auston and Atlanta sides.  A draw would not be a real shock but a win would.

Clean Out The Lockers

For the sixth game in a row the Rapids had a lead.  For the fourth game in a row and fifth time in those six games the Rapids didn't win.  Seven leads thrown away in those five games.  Just a ridiculously mentally weak team.

We have not won a league game where where conceded a goal at any point since April 11, over 6 months ago

There's really not much more to say about things than that.  One thing stood out last night though.

Youssef Maziz - Out with injury, Wells stated he'll be lucky to be back by the end of the season

Morgan Whittaker - Horrible back pass to set up the first Minnesota goal

Sayed Abu Farkhi - Played 8 minutes and got a red for slapping Boxall

Loic Williams - Own goal to tie the game

That's our 4 midseason signings doing everything they can to make sure we don't win this game.  Now I know that's not really fair to Maziz and Williams was more unlucky than anything but just a brutal set of (non) performances from the group that arrived after Padraig Smith stated "We will be bold. We are going to be forceful in what we do here".

Good to see Yapi and Minoungou finally get on the scoreboard but its too little too late.  Its really hard to see who this team can beat if they can't beat one of the bottom 5 teams in the league at home.  The rest of the West is so bad they might be able to hold on to the final playoff spot by their fingernails, but this team will be a one and done in the wild card game.

Man of the Match: Yapi.  Pretty goal, good to see him score.

Do Or Die Time

Well, here we are.  6 games left, one win in the last 6 games, and the easiest opponent left in town tomorrow night.  If we can't get 3 points against Minnesota, the next to last team in the West, at home then we might as well clean out the lockers this week as there's no reason to think any other wins, or a playoff spot, will be coming in the last three weeks.  Kickoff against the Loons is the normal 7:30 tomorrow night, and its going to be cool and wet for the first time in quite a while.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (shoulder), M Ali Fadal (torso), M Youssef Maziz (leg)

QUESTIONABLE: D Reggie Cannon (leg), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder)

Josh Atencio is still on yellow card watch too

Gotta roll out the best XI (or the best we can) tomorrow.  Thompson seems the more likely replacement for Cannon than Rosenberry but either one would probably work.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Whittaker and Aaronson.  Minnesota is bad and its now or never.  The Rapids get the job done but its not convincing.  Pretty typical riding the playoff line finish to the season for us.

Rapids Fail To Finish, Again

From my Friday preview:

1-1 draw, goal by Phillip.  This even feels a bit optimistic given our recent play and how good San Jose is, but I think the home field advantage is enough to get us a point.  I can't see a win though. 

(I did however claim we were playing Montreal and not Minnesota on Wednesday, my bad)

And that's exactly what happened.  Colorado got a 27th minute goal from Donovan Phillip but couldn't hold the lead again.  1.07 xG, 2 big chances, surprisingly 10 shots on target but when they only generate a bit over 1 expected goal you can tell they weren't great chances.  There's only so many ways I can write the same game review.  Our offense does not create enough quality chances to win in this league.  Especially if we can't put up a shut out on the other end.

Phillip, obviously, had a good night with the goal.  His third in three games and he scored for St. Lucia during the international break.  Aaronson and Frederick looked good too.  But we didn't get much out of Farchi or Whittaker.  And Atencio managed to not get a card but didn't add much to the offense.  The book is out on the Rapids, we can't beat a low block from the run of play.  Until we figure that out the offense is going to look the same every week (not good).

A concerning note from the subs.  Minoungou came on in the 58th and was taken off in the 83rd after Wells was visibly frustrated with his effort.  That's a bad sign for somebody we spent $2M on 6 months ago.  Especially since he was replaced by Sadiq getting his first minutes in burgundy, somebody who will be gunning for his spot.

Also Wells got another yellow card on the sideline.  Hard to complain about our lack if discipline when the head coach leads with that kind of example.

As I said on Friday though, this game was gravy.  One point against a good San Jose side is actually decent, we are just at the desperation stage of the season.  The big games are Wednesday against Minnesota and Saturday in Portland.  4 points mininum, really need 6 to be comfortable.

Man of the Match: Donovan Phillip.  I almost went with Frederick here but how can you not award a kid who's scored 3 in 3?

The Final Push

Ok, that was the final break before the end of the regular season.  The Rapids have 3 games this coming week, get 7 days off, have 3 games that following week, have 7 days off, and finish ion Dallas.  7 games, 28 days, and we need probably 9 points in those games.  The good news is that 4 of the 7 are home.  The bad news is that 5 of the 7 are against the top 8 teams in the league.  It starts tomorrow with one of two games against the Earthquakes, this one at home in Commerce City.  With 3 games this wee we need a minimum of 4 points if we think we have any shot at a playoff spot.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (shoulder), M Ali Fadal (torso), M Youssef Maziz (leg)

QUESTIONABLE: M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder)

Maziz was apparently close to being back and then reinjured the leg so they're being cautious now.  At least it doesn't sound season-ending.  Also Josh Atencio is on yellow card watch, again.  Ibrahim Sadiq has his visa and is available for selection as well.

I was tempted to throw Sadiq into the starting lineup but I can't see Wells picking him over Phillip was has been playing very well.  We could see Atencio instead of Ojediran but that would be a mistake IMO.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Phillip.  This even feels a bit optimistic given our recent play and how good San Jose is, but I think the home field advantage is enough to get us a point.  I can't see a win though.  In the playoff hunt though the critical games are Wednesday night against Montreal and next weekend in Portland.  This is a nice to have.