OG Matchup

The KC Wiz, er, Kansas City Wizards, er, Sporting Kansas City are in town for tomorrow night's matchup between two original teams.  Our I-70s rivals are in contention for the Wooden Spoon this season and this is a game we must take advantage of.  Before the match the team is going to have a short celebration to honor Keegan Rosenberry's 200th appearance last game.  The ceremony will start at 7:15 with kickoff at the normal 7:30 (or thereabouts).

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), D Jackson Travis (ankle), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Kimani Stewart-Baynes (lower leg), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

No surprises there.  The one surprise is the name that's not there, Youssef Maziz.  Our new midfielder got his visa earlier this week and is eligible for selection.  He was not allowed to train with the team until the paperwork came through though, he was only allowed to do individual fitness and skill training.  That makes it very unlikely that he starts but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 15-20 minutes if the game state allows it.

Also Atencio, Rafa Navarro, and Ojediran are all one yellow card from suspension.

This seems straight forward.  While I would start Yapi its clear that Wells doesn't rate him as a starter.  Minoungou and Sealy seem to be the favored winger options.  Everyone else is fairly self-explanatory.

Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Navarro and Yapi (off the bench).  There's really no excuse to not wi this game by at least 2.  KC is a horrible team and we need to show we can handle teams like this.  Any sort of struggle and its a good sign we should just focus on the Rocky Mountain and Open Cups for the rest of the season.

A Must Win On Colorado Day

Unless we have an early Rocky Mountain Cup match in the future this will be the only time Colorado Day is a must win but it is this year.  Austin FC is in town and they are the second worst team in the West (but better than 4 teams in the East because the bottom of the East is a trash fire).  This needs to be an unquestionable 3 points for the Rapids or we'll be left playing for the Rocky Mountain and Open Cups because the playoffs will be a lost cause.  Kickoff is at 7:30.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), D Rob Holding (red card), D Jackson Travis (ankle), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Kimani Stewart-Baynes (lower leg), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

No notable surprises there.  Maziz was signed as expected today but is waiting on his paperwork (visa) before he can play.

The defense seems to set itself, maybe Thompson at RB instead of Cannon.  The real question marks are which two wingers get a shot because none of them have been impressive in this run of no firepower.

Prediction: 1-0 Colorado, goal by Rafa.  I think we get the 3 points, but its not as convincing as it should be.  Defensively we're solid but we still fail to make enough chances despite playing one of the worst defenses in the league.

USOC Semifinal Preview

We're off to the far side of Missouri to get a sneak peak at our U.S. Open Cup semi opponents in September as the Rapids play St. Louis tomorrow night.  StL came into the Dick back in May and stole a 1-0 win on a goal both Holding and Herrington would want back.  The Rapids need to figure out if they can fix their offense, the last time we put a crooked number on the scoreboard it was on the fully working scoreboard at Empower Field.  Kickoff tomorrow is at 6:30 MT.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), D Jackson Travis (ankle), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

No change on the injury front, but we get Miguel Navarro and Wayne Fredrick back from suspension.  Fredrick signed a new contract extension today, taking him through the 2029-2030 season with a club option for an additional season.  We'll have to wait until the salary drop in September to know what kind of raise he got.

I'm not sure who will get the start on the wings, but otherwise I feel good about this lineup.  Other than Herrington everyone gets a week off after this, so going back-to-back shouldn't be a problem for anyone.  I think Williams gets rewarded with another start and Herrington cycles in for Holding.  Wells had a lot of good things to say about Kosi Wednesday night so I see him starting again too.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Rafa.  I can't predict the Rapids getting more than 1 until they prove they can.  Meanwhile St. Louis improve during the break and I can't see them being shut out at home.  Our defense is strong enough to keep them from running us over, but I don't see 3 points coming.

2026 Part 2

Now what are we doing again?  Oh, right, MLS season.  We've already spent enough time looking back so lets just look forward now.  The Rapids need to rack up points in July and August before the schedule gets hard again in September, and that starts tomorrow night with San Diego in town.  Colorado has not made many changes during the World Cup break, Manyoma, Murphy, and Ronan has left (Murphy will be back tomorrow night with SD) and Loic Williams has joined but that's it.  San Diego has been a bit more active.  This is 12th vs. 13th in the table so both sides are looking at this like 3 points they need to jump start their season.  Kickoff tomorrow night at the Dick is at the traditional 7:30pm.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), D Miguel Navarro (yellow card accumulation), D Jackson Travis (ankle), M Wayne Fredrick (red card suspension), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

Yuck, though not surprising.  We knew Steffen and KDP had surgeries and would be out long term.  Both M. Navarro and Frederick played dumb last game (imagine yelling at the official who was in the center for England-Argentina and thinking you were going to get away with it) to get their suspension.  Billo Diop was unlikely to ever play a big role in this game, even if we weren't expecting his injury.  Travis is the one that really hurts since M. Navarro is also out.

We don't really know how the break went but I expect this to be close.  I don't think Williams gets the start but he should be on the bench.  If Wells is uncomfortable with Cannon at LB we could see a 3-man back line with Williams starting and a couple of wingbacks (Minoungou and Thompson for example).

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Rafa.  Going to be a lot of rust out there and neither of these teams were good before the break.  A draw isn't great but it would be (barely) acceptable given the time off and the player availability.  A loss would be fairly disastrous but a win is certainly not out of the question.

Final Game Before The Break

This long run of 18 games in  just under 13 weeks ends tomorrow with our final match before the two month World Cup break.  Tomorrow our old friends Dallas are in town and are more rested then we are, not having a midweek game.  Regardless they've struggled against us in recent years so hopefully that continues.  Kickoff tomorrow is at 7:30pm and there's a fireworks show after the match.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (upper body), Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder)

Coach Availability:

OUT: HC Matt Wells (yellow card suspension)

Yeah, the numerous yellow cards to the bench have caught up with us.  Wells has to sit out because of them and can't be involved in pregame or halftime.  I'm sure he'll set the lineup but after that its on the shoulders of assistant coach Ally Harris.

Miguel Navarro is also one yellow from suspension.

I have a feeling hat a lot of guys are going to be running on fumes after the high of Wednesday night.  We need one more game out of Rafa and Herrington (and lets hope its not the last game in burgundy black for either of them) as they're irreplaceable but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't go 90.  Everyone else is going to be on heavy rotation I expect.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Navarro.  I almost put down a 2-2 draw, if the teams were coming off equal rest I'd like our chances to get a result here but with the added minutes I don't think we'll be able to keep up.

Quarterfinals

Well this is new.  This happens to be the 2700th entry in this blog and its the first time we're talking about a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal.  The last time the Rapids made it this far was August of 2007, about 6 months before I opened this place up (USL Seattle slaughtered us 5-0 up in the PacNW).  It took a long time to get back here but this time we get to host. Kickoff tomorrow is at 8pm and remember extra-time and PKs are possible late tomorrow night.

That's the upside.  The downside is that we host red-hot San Jose.  Well, they were red-hot when they win their Round of 16 match and were drawn against us, having won all their USOC games and 9 of their first 10 league matches  They then drew their next two games and have lost their last two after that.  This has roughly coincided with an injury to star striker Timo Werner.  He was OUT for their game on Saturday and the word is that he was expected back in late-May but the 'Quakes are being cautious about rushing him back.  That suggests he won't start tomorrow but might be available off the bench?

There's no update for the Rapids on the injury front but I think its a safe bet Steffen is still out and we know KDP is.  Harris was out on Saturday due to illness so hopefully he'll be available.  If so then, barring any injury in training, Steffen and KDP should be the extend of the injury report.  Kosi Thompson will be suspended after his red card against the Switchbacks however.

So the starting XI will really come down to who's rested and who isn't.  I expect Wells to try to get one more game out of Rafa's legs, and Aaronson has been rotated a bit.  Yapi and holding didn't start in Sandy so I'd expect them in, and Herrington is young and we'll probably try to get 90 more minutes out of his legs.  Hansen in net.  The other 5 though?  Anyone's guess.

The winner tomorrow will move to the semifinal in September to face St. Louis, who just beat Houston in penalty kicks.  If its the Rapids they will host the semifinal.  If its the Earthquakes they'll travel to Missouri.  The winner of the semifinal will travel to the winner of Orlando at tomorrow's Columbus-NYCFC match for the final in October.

As always, no prediction for a USOC game.  Its just too hard to tell what the focus will be.  Though that will change should we win as the semifinal and any potential final are clearly going to be a top priority.

This Needs No Introduction

But we're going to do it anyway.  We all know what tomorrow is, the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup.  We're over in Sandy at KKK Slogan Field for this one (I had to resist the urge to use this as the header picture).  A reminder of the rules.  Most points, most goals, then its essentially a tie and the current holders retain the Rocky Mountain Cup.  That's us this year.  So in practice that means a one goal loss or better means we just have to win the home game in August to retain the Cup.  Anything better than that just makes the job easier.  Kickoff for the rivalry clash is at 7:30pm.

Good luck to the travelling C38 support that leave the Dick at 6:30am tomorrow.  Its never fun having to enter the dark place.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (upper body), M Alex Harris (illness), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder)

QUESTIONABLE: M Josh Atencio (concussion)

Miguel Navarro is still one yellow from suspension.  Atencio travelled with the team to Utah and will be available but I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't start.

Not sure on the wingers or the right back, but the rest feels fairly solid.  I do think Yapi will start but we could push back into that 2-striker formation too.  Regardlss some guys need to dig deep for this on and on Wednesday for the Open Cup.  If there's nothing left for Dallas in a week, so be it.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Navarro.  FSL is, sadly, a better team than us right now and they're at home.  But I do think Wells has the team in the right mentality to not get blown out in Sandy like we've seen far too many times.  Rafa gets an important goal to keep it close and we hang on with everything to get out with just a one goal deficit and et up for a win or go home type game in August.

Rapids Start Tough Two Game Road Trip

Before we get started, the MLS Players Union annual spring salary release was today.  Given that we have 4 games in the next 11 days I'm not going to get around to covering it in detail until we reach the World Cup break, but it is out there.

Now, on to tomorrow's game.  Colorado makes the trip to the Land Of A Thousand Lakes to take on Minnesota United.  The Rapids are on a 5 game winless streak while United is coming off a home draw against Austin.  With a win Minnesota could jump to 3rd in the West, depending on other results, while a Colorado win could get them back into a playoff position.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen (upper body), D Rob Holding (red card suspension), M Josh Atencio (concussion), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Hamzat Ojediran (yellow card suspension)

Also Miguel Navarro is one yellow card from suspension.  Some tough decisions are going to have to be made tomorrow.  With two big matches in the week after it I think the Rapids should punt on this match and focus on the Rocky Mountain Cup this weekend and Open Cup next Wednesday.

Unlike what I said above I expect Wells to go for it as best he can.  The fullbacks could change but the rest feels fairly solid for the XI.

Prediction: 1-0 loss.  Hard to see the team getting much of anything in this one, though Minnesota doesn't have a high-powered offense.  It will likely play out similar to Saturday, except without the win (and hopefully without the red card).

Dynamo, Rapids, Running Out Of Gas

Before we get started there was some sad news from Centennial 38 and the Rapids today.  Ryan Sabin, one of C38's tailgate crew, passed away after a medical incident at the Open Cup game Wednesday night.  His Rapids family will miss him terribly and my thoughts are with his loved ones.  The club will wear black armbands to remember him tomorrow and there will be a moment of silence before the next home match on the 9th.

After 7 games the Rapids reach the end of this 3 weeks of 3 games with a trip to Houston.  Houston's trip to Commerce City started this sequence but the good news is that they've played just as many games as we have, and are equally beat up.  This is the last *scheduled* game between the teams in the regular season, but both are in the Open Cup quarterfinals and if both win in 2.5 weeks then the Dynamo would make one more trip to Colorado for the semifinal.  Both teams went 120 minutes in their Round of 16 match on Wednesday (though the Dynamo didn't need PKs) so they're equally tired at this point.  Kickoff tomorrow is ay 6:30pm.

Player Availability:

OUT: M Wayne Fredrick (leg), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Connor Ronan (leg)

QUESTIONABLE: M Paxten Aaronson (leg), M Georgi Minoungou (leg)

Yeah, that's a lot of midfield missing.  The Dynamo have 3 players out, including Vines, and one questionable.  Both teams are limping into this one.

That's every midfielder that's played at least 90 minutes this season and who's not on the injury report.  Maybe Wells goes to a 5-3-2 or something but my bet is that it will look something like this.  We need the guys like Herrington and Navarro to dig deep one more time, though if the game gets out of hand either way they'll be quick subs.  I know I said I wanted Hansen to be the starter in net, but with him plying 120 minutes plus a shootout on Wednesday and with a home game next week, I think its probably best to make that change against St. Louis in front of a friendly crowd.

Prediction: 2-2 draw.  Goals by Navarro and Yapi.  We beat this team 6-2 three weeks ago at home, but we were healthy and rested.  Neither is the case now.  I think we're a better team than them but I think we're going to run out of gas.

I-25 Derby In The Open Cup

Tomorrow night the Rapids are going to try to do something they've never done at the Dick.  Qualify for the Open Cup quarterfinals.  The last time the burgundy boys made it past the Round of 16 they were the black and blue boys and were playing their last season at Mile High (though both USOC gamers were on the road that year) and it was the last time we beat a MLS team in this competition, taking down FSL 1-0 in Utah.  This is also the 10th anniversary of the last time we played the Switchbacks, beating them in USOC play, so its only appropriate that they're our opponents tomorrow night for this all-Colorado battle.  If Minnesota beats San Jose in the match about to kickoff the Colorado teams were be the furthest west teams left in this year's competition.  Kickoff tomorrow night is at 7pm.

I'm still not going to predict a lineup for this one.  We're on our 6th game in 18 days, with another one to come this weekend before we finally get a midweek break.  Its really going to be a matter of who has legs left to go in this one.  The Springs have only played 3 in that same time, so they'll be better rested.  I do expect Nico Hansen to get the start in goal but outside of that its an open question.

Prediction: 3-1 win.  To be blunt, tired or not, a team that ran Houston out of its place 6-3 a couple of weeks ago should no be losing to a lower-league team in the same stadium.  I'm sure the derby nature of this game will keep it tighter than we're comfortable for longer than we want but in the end the greater talent of the Rapids should prevail.  Of course, the Rapids have found ways to lose the games plenty of times in the past (Orlando, Atlanta, New Mexico...).

H2O

The rapids of the Fraser River meet the whitecaps of the Pacific near Vancouver

Water meets water north of the border tomorrow as the Rapids meet their aquatic counterparts the Whitecaps in Vancouver.  Colorado is coming off a good 0-0 draw in LA on Wednesday while the 'Caps are rested after their game last weekend.  There are 27K expected in BC Place for this one as this is the last home game for Vancouver until August due to FIFA taking over their stadium for the World Cup.  Kickoff is at 8:30pm MT.

Player Availability:

OUT: M Josh Atencio (yellow card suspension), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Connor Ronan (leg)

QUESTIONABLE: D Jackson Travis (ankle)

I would be very surprised if Travis plays given the turf at BC Place.  Reggie Cannon is back and will be in the gameday roster according to Wells, but I wouldn't expect him to start.

This is really just a guess based on who's available and who's played what this week.  Everyone is going to have to dig deep, especially down the center spine, to come up with another 90 minutes.  Maybe Rosneberry starts?  Or Yapi goes again since he didn't start last Saturday?  Do we risk Cobb in the middle instead of Herrington?

Prediction: 0-2 loss.  Vancouver is rested at home and is the best offense in the league.  We're tired and couldn't score against a good team on Wednesday.  I just don't see much in this one for us.

 

Our Least Favorite Road Trip: LAFC

Colorado heads out on the road for a double-game week.  They'll be up north in Vancouver on Saturday but first they have to go somewhere they hate, LAFC, tomorrow night.  The Rapids have never won at the Bank and LAFC is looking particularly tough this year, having given up just the first goals of the whole season on Sunday.  Kickoff tomorrow is at 8:30pm 

Player Availability:

Out: M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Conner Ronan (leg)

Cannon and Miguel Navarro return from injury but in the case of Cannon I'm not sure he'll be up to jumping back into the starting XI after missing a month but Navarro should be good to go.

This is really a guess.  I have no idea how Wells is going to rotate for his first true 3 game week and knowing he'll be facing a rested Vancouver on the weekend.  Even if its this lineup it could be a 4-4-2, a 4-5-1, or a 4-3-3.  I don't see Atencio starting after his struggles on Saturday and I think both Travis and Thompson have failed to grab the right back spot, so if there's any time Keegan gets a start it feels like its this one.  I expect Rafa and possibly one of the center backs to be subbed out in the 2nd unless its a tight game.

Prediction: 0-2 loss.  Colorado might have the second best offense in the league but LAFC has the best defense by far, and they're impossible to beat at home (at least by the Rapids).  I'm going to have to see this team do more than lose to good teams before I predict a result on the road, especially at the Bank.

Well Done Houston

I realize Houston is the opposition tomorrow but as I sit here writing this while watching Artemis' return to our planet I have to give Mission Control in Houston credit for a great job over the last 10 days.  Teenaged me once dreamed of being in that room (I was never going to make it as an astronaut so Flight Director was my goal) and while I have no regrets about my life or choices it will never get old watching NASA do things like this (unlike Elon).

Anyway, on to tomorrow night's game where the Rapids are finally home for the first time in more than a month.  Of course they're without a number of players but better to deal with that in the friendly confines of the Dick.  Meanwhile one player that would certainly be starting tomorrow is he were still with us will be on the other side as Sam Vines makes his return to Colorado.  Kickoff tomorrow is the normal 7:30pm.

Player Availability:

OUT: D Reggie Cannon (ankle), D Miguel Navarro (red card), D Jackson Travis (red card), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Connor Ronan (leg)

The Rapids announced today that Ted Ku-DiPietro underwent shoulder surgery this week and will be reevaluated in 5 months (so late September).  Essentially his season is over barring an unexpected rapid recovery.  Spending $1.125M on a guy who was recovering from shoulder surgery and who will have 12 starts and a little over 1200 minutes total late into his second season with the club is not looking like a winning move.

Obviously the big issue though is our lack of fullbacks.  We have five on the roster and three are unavailable.  The only other two are Keegan Rosenberry and Kosi Thompson, who got his visa on Wednesday and is available.  For a team like last year's Rapids under Armas I could see Thompson being thrown into the starting lineup tomorrow.  For Matt Wells' system though?  Thompson has had maybe 3 days of practice with the team (he couldn't even train with the club before he got his visa) and the system requires a lot of playing out of the back.  Plus the amount of pressing that needs to happen at altitude.  I can't see Thompson as anything more than a possible late sub.

With only one fullback really available, an unknown use of Minoungou, and an Open Cup match next week before the 30th Anniversary/Messi match I'm not going to try to predict a lineup for this one.  We could see a winger pushed back to play defense, a 3 center back setup, or something really unexpected.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Yapi.  Even with our lack of fullbacks I think we're a better team than Houston, and we're at home.  Houston has played one less game then us, due to their game at New England being delayed due to weather, but even with that their offense only has 8 goals, and 6 of them came in the two games they did play in March (against an average Dallas and a bad Portland side).  This is actually their first game outside Texas this season.  It won't be easy but the Rapids pull out the 3 points to remain perfect at home.

Old Friends Meet As Enemies

The Rapids get back from the international break with an early start up north as they're on the road in Toronto.  At the scene of their greatest triumph they'll face off agianst their former coach in Robin Fraser, their former MVP in Djordje Mihailovic (possibly, he's listed as questionable), and their former goalkeeper will be on th bench in Will Yarbrough.  The Rapids recent acquisition from Toronto, Kosi Thompson, will not be available as he's still waiting on his visa.  Kickoff is a very early 11am Mountain tomorrow so don't oversleep!

(Interesting note, both Toronto and Colorado have one MLS Cup win, and both teams win their MLS Cup at BMO Field in Toronto)

Player Availability:

OUT: D Reggie Cannon (ankle), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Connor Ronan (leg)

Along with the three injured players and Thompson waiting on his visa, new acquisition Georgi Minonugou will not be available, something to do with his visa and having just returned from national team duty with Burkina Faso he can't leave the country right away to go to Canada for this game.  If we were playing another U.S. side he would be able to play.

Kind of tricky to predict this lineup.  Travis was not good at right back last time out so I think Rosenberry will get the start.  Both Herrington and Cobb went on long trips for international callups (Australia and South Korea, respectively) so neither one likely has the legs to go 90.  Herrington got more minutes during the trip but he's young so I'm betting he gets the start with the plan to sub him out around the 60th minute.  Up front Yapi is in the same boat, but with our winger depth being tested I think he also likely gets the start with a plan to sub him out.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Navarro.  If we were a little healthier and/or a little more rested, or maybe at home, I'd be ok predicting a win.  But I feel like there's just enough stacked against us that we're going to get a draw and be fairly happy about it.

Quick SKC Preview

Ok, this is going to be quick and dirty.  The shingles vaccine has knocked me out for about 24 hours.

Steffen is back, presumably will start.  Ronan and Cannon are not available.

SKC is not a good team.  They're averaging 1 goal a game, in the form of two games where they've scored twice and two games where they've been shut out.  They got their first win last week in LA against the Galaxy.

If Wells' system is going to work this is a game you have to get a result from.  Combined with next week's game in Toronto you want at least 2 points and really you want 4.

1-1 draw, goal by Yapi.  I'm not yet willing to predict a win on the road for this group, but it wouldn't surprise me.  You can't call this a must win in game 5, but a loss here would be fairly disastrous for the goals this season.  I think we get a draw at least though.

One Last Trip To the Old Ballpark

The next time the Rapids travel to NYC (as opposed to New Jersey) the new NYCFC stadium in Queens will be open, barring a Cup run for the Rapids in the next 18 months.  That means tomorrow is the last trip to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium for the Burgundy Boys.  NYCFC is off to a hot start, but every one of their games has finished with them playing up a man (to be fair, two of our three have as well).  Kickoff tomorrow is at 5:30pm an hour after the Summit's inaugural game kicks off.  C38 is having a watch party for both games at The Owl Saloon.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), D Reggie Cannon (ankle), M Connor Ronan (leg)

Matt Wells said today that Cannon has had an injection on his Achilles but doesn't need surgery, however he's going to be out at least this game and the next one.  That gets us to the international break and they expect to have him back after that.  Ronan is week to week and Steffen is day to day.

Keegan is the  obvious replacement for the injured Cannon, otherwise I'm not expecting any changes.  Yapi earned the start with his play last week and everyone else seems to have locked into a starting job.  The only question mark might be if Navarro moves in for Travis at left back.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Yapi.  I'm tempted to predict a draw here based on our play the last couple of weeks, but on the road is a different beat than the friendly confines of the Dick, as we saw in Seattle.  Add to that the tight dimensions in Yankee Stadium and I think that's too much to overcome.  I do think we finish with all 11 men on the field though.

Classic Rivalry Renewed

Into the 20-teens Galaxy-Rapids was the most played competitive fixture between MLS teams when you included the regular season, playoffs, and USOC.  A remnant of the two teams being the only ones to have played in the Western Conference all (now) 31 seasons.  The Rapids struggles since their Cup win in 2010 has meant less playoff and USOC meetings and the fixture is no longer top of the list but its still one of the most contested.  Tomorrow they do it again at the Dick, and we're back to the normal 7:30pm kickoff, which means the tailgate starts at 4.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zack Steffen

Steffen picked up a shoulder injury this week so Nico Hansen will get the start.  Ali Fadal is off the injury list but he's also been loaned to R2.

The old "if it ain't broke" move here, with Hansen coming in for Steffen as the only change.  I'm off the Ronan bandwagon now, I really thought he was going to feature more but its clear that the midfield, for now, is going to be Aaronson, Hamzat, and Atencio.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Navarro.  I think LA is a better team than us, but this is the Galaxy's 5th game in 2.5 weeks and their first league game on the road.  I think that's enough early in the season, at altitude, that they'll be feeling it by late in the 2nd half.  That will allow the Rapids to get an equalizer and/or keep the Galaxy from pushing for a winner.

Time To Get The Party Started

The best day of any season is here, the home opener.  And somehow, despite it being February, its going to be a gorgeous day for soccer at the Dick.  The only downside is that the Timbers and an old friend are in town.  Cole Bassett makes his first appearance in Commerce City in something other than burgundy and blue which is going to be a hard thing to see.  Regardless, kickoff is ar 2:30 tomorrow afternoon and the tailgate starts at 11.

Player Availability:

OUT - M Ali Fadal (abdomen)

Everyone is still healthy from last week, which, given our recent early season injury problems, is great to see.

Based on Wells' post-game comments on Sunday I'm expecting to see some changes, especially for those who didn't play very well.  Mainly Cobb, Atencio, and Sealy.  But a lot of this is still guess work right now, if Travis and Cannon were to start on the outside again it wouldn't shock me.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Navarro.  Bassett gets at least an assist against us.  It is really hard to get any hopes up based on last week.  We are at home and Wells has had first contact with the enemy in MLS and will adjust, but until we see improvement I can't predict anything but a loss.

Opening Night!

The last major event at Lumen.  Go Hawks!!!

Its taken us a while to get here, and we're in Seattle without a couple of faces we would have expected to be there, but its time to get the last summer season underway.  OF course we have to stat in one of our cursed places, Seattle's Lumen Field.  But perhaps the stunning 3 goal comeback last season has broken that curse.  Regardless kickoff tomorrow is at 7:15pm on both Apple TV and FS1.  The official Rapids watch party is at DNVR, C38 is having their kickoff event at the Celtic as is tradition.

Also a reminder that MLS Season Pass on Apple is no longer a thing.  MLS is now folded into Apple TV so a subscription gets you the Rapids, F1, Ted Lasso, and my personal favorite, Slow Horses.

Availability Report:

OUT: Ali Fadal (abdomen)

I'm sure its just coincidence that our only injury is an international player when we have seven internationals and six international spots...

Going out on a bit of a limb here as with a new season and a new coach its always tough to predict what a lineup will look like.  The three biggest guesses are who the third midfielder will be alongside Ojediran and Aaronson and who else will be on the back line with Cannon and Holding.

For center back I went with Cobb due to his experience but if its murphy or Herrington I won't be too shocked.  I would have had Vines as the starter at  left back giving Navarro a bit more time to integrate but tonight's news blew that out of the water so I'm going to go with the newest signing assuming we have his paperwork.  Otherwise it will be Travis.  Last but not least the Atencio/Ronan question in midfield.  Wells mentioned about pulling out some surprises and I think this is the place it happens, with Ronan playing the forward midfield/10 spot with Aaronson behind him.

Prediction: 3-2 loss, goals by Navarro and Yapi.  A high scoring game like this seems like a stretch but Wells' style appears to be up-tempo, high pressing, and attacking the goal.  Meanwhile the Sounders have a number of center back injuries and I don't yet trust our back line.  Those are all ingredients for a high-scoring game.  In the end though Seattle has more talent than us and are at home, so they get the win.

Rapids Make 249th Birthday Pilgrimage to Philly

 

Independence Hall National Historic Park

Since they're in Philly this year the Rapids likely won't be able to visit for the country's 250th birthday next season.  Barring some kind of Cup matchup that is.  Tomorrow night they take on a Union team that's just a point off the Supporters Shield and tied for second in the East.  A tough task for the visitors, but coming off of games against LAFC, Vancouver, and Seattle they should be used to it by now.  Kickoff for this one is at 5:30pm and there's a gathering at the Celtic to watch the game after the NWSL Denver Summit kickoff event downtown.

Availability Report:

OUT: Connor Ronan (ankle)

Not ideal for Ronan to be out but with the hole in the backline after Awaziem was sold I think Larraz or Atencio were more likely to start anyway.  Nice not to see anyone else on the list.

Tomorrow night is the debut of the new green third kit and I'm looking forward to that.  The real question is how Armas chooses to fill the Awaziem hole.  I think he'll minimize the changes and leave Cannon on the right and Keegan in the middle, but I could see those reversed.  A possibility Murphy starts as well.  Cobb might be on the bench but I'd be surprised if he saw time.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Mihailovic.  Based on their recent play I wouldn't be totally shocked by a draw here, but I think this is a steep hill to climb while rebuilding the back line.  Philly bosses the game and gets the win but Djordje gets one off a set piece (or at worst assists one off a set piece).