Rapids Try To Put Dark Week Behind Them

Its been a rough week for the Rapids. The Mullan incident hung over the team all week, and they're in the middle of a 3 game losing and scoreless streak. They try to right the ship tomorrow when the Chicago Fire come to town. Game time tomorrow at the Dick is 7pm. Class VI and the Pid Army are having a themed tailgate of Chicago dogs starting at 4pm in the regular spot. The game is also on Altitude.

Injury Report:

OUT: FW Macoumba Kandji (L knee ACL tear)

QUESTIONABLE: DF Eddie Ababio (R hamstring strain); FW Quincy Amarikwa (L ankle strain); FW Conor Casey (L hamstring strain)

PROBABLE: FW Caleb Folan (R quadriceps strain); GK Matt Pickens (R groin strain); DF Marvell Wynne (R hamstring strain)

Disciplinary Report:

SUSPENDED: MF Brian Mullan (10 games)

SUSPENDED AFTER 2 MORE CAUTIONS: FW Conor Casey

Wow, that's an ugly list of injuries and suspensions. The Fire have 5 players questionable or worse, including former Rapid Cory Gibbs. In today's update Smith made it sound like Casey won't go, and Folan was more likely to go than Wynne. This makes the lineup pick this week a little tricky. My best guess:

Pickens

Kimura - Moor - Marshall - Wallace

Thompson - Mastroeni - Larentowicz - Smith

Cummings - Folan

If Wynne can go I think Marshall sits. If Folan can't go I think Nyassi takes his place. Given Nyassi's play in Denver I bet that Smith keeps him coming off the bench unless he needs another forward, making Thompson the obvious pick to replace Mullan.

Key To Look For: At this point the Rapids need to rediscover the form that carried them through the last 3rd of last year, the playoffs, and the first 3 games of this year. If the can't do that the details won't matter.

Prediction: 2-1 Rapids win. Goals by Cummings and a weird goal. Could be a defender on a header, could be an own goal, could be a PK. I just feel like we're going to get one of those crazy goals out of nowhere. The shakeup in the defense will prevent us from getting a shutout but the Fire are not a good team and even with our makeshift lineup we can do enough to win.