Battle Of The Nines

Colorado is back home for a Sunday game against DC United. DC comes in having only one once in Denver/Commerce City in the last ten years. Unfortunately that one win was the last time they were here in October. That was the last time the Rapids walked off the field from a league match feeling like they were the losers (Technically they lost the playoff game in Columbus but won the series on PKs). I'm guessing the team has that in the forefront of their mind.

Game time is at 5pm at the Dick. The Class VI and Pid Army tailgate starts at 3pm and all our welcome. The game will also be nationally televised in Spanish on Galavision and locally in English on Altitude 2.

Injury Report:

OUT: FW Macoumba Kandji (L knee ACL tear)

PROBABLE: GK Matt Pickens (R groin), FW Conor Casey (L calf)

Other than Kandji the Rapids are at full strength. DC is not with 6 players questionable or worse and Perry Kitchen gone with the u.S. U-20 squad. This makes the lineup guess very easy:

Pickens

Kimura - Wynne - Moor - Wallace

Mullan - Mastroeni - Larentowicz - Smith

Cummings - Casey

If it ain't broke don't fix it. These XI have gotten it done for a while, might as well keep letting them get it done. None of these players traveled to Illinois. Cummings did play for Jamaica twice since last Friday, in two different countries, so he might be a bit tired but I'm sure he's good enough to start.

Key To Look For: #9 Conor Casey vs. #9 Charlie Davies. Both teams have an American striker on the edge of National Team consideration as their #9. Which one comes out on top?

Prediction: 3-1 Rapids win. Goals by Casey, Cummings, and Larentowicz. DC is putting together a makeshift defense at altitude, they won't be able to stop the C+C Goal Factory. On the flip side, Najar and Davies are probably the best combination of attacking players the Rapids have seen since playing Buddle and Donovan to finish the regular season last year. I expect them to get one goal on our back line.