NFL
By Keith Richards
Heading into Matchday 12 against the Philadelphia Union, the Colorado Rapids face a mixed bag. On one hand, the team is unbeaten in its last nine matches across all competitions, which includes wins in three of the last four matches. On the other hand, the suspension of midfielder Max Alves has placed a dark cloud over the team. So, fresh off another impressive performance in the US Open Cup, the focus for the Rapids on Matchday 12 has to be to continue to focus on the positives.
Luckily for Colorado, the positives are plenty. Here are some of the positives for the Rapids over the past five matches heading into Matchday 12:
• 11 goals scored in the past five matches
• Only five goals conceded in the past five matches
• Advancing to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup
• Moving up two spots in the MLS Western Conference
• Scoring three or more goals in three of the past five matches
With 12 points heading into Matchday 12, the Rapids are just one spot out of the playoffs. Furthermore, Colorado is only three points behind FC Dallas for the fifth seed in the West. As stated in a previous article, Colorado is heading into a crucial stretch that could be highly beneficial for them. Four out of their remaining six MLS matches in May are at home. In June, three out of their four MLS matches are at home. If their run of good play continues, the Rapids could make a hard push up the standings.
It all starts against Philadelphia on Matchday 12. Not only will the Rapids look to continue their unbeaten streak, but it’s also a chance for Colorado to get revenge. The last time these two teams faced off in Philadelphia, it was a slaughter. The Union beat the Rapids 6-0, which seems closer than what the match was. The bright side for Colorado is that this is not the same Philly squad as last season.
The Philadelphia Union are not a bad team, but they are not the same time that competed in the finals of the MLS Cup just a few months ago. In their past five matches across all competitions, Philly is 2-2-1. With 14 points heading into Matchday 12, they are 7th in the Eastern Conference. They are a team that can be scored on as well.
Last season, Philadelphia finished with a goal difference of +46 while only conceding 26 goals. Heading into Matchday 12, the Union goal difference is only +2 and they have already conceded 13 goals. That’s half as many as they did all of last season. So, while Philly is not a team to take lightly, they’re not the feared team they were last season. It’s a match the Rapids need to win.
While the Player Availability Report is more extensive on Matchday 12 than it was on Matchday 11, there are still positives. The loss of Max is tough. However, Cole Bassett has been upgraded to questionable, which is a good sign after being out the last few matches. Acosta and Rubio are also questionable but, along with Bassett, were active participants in training as of yesterday. The largest concern with players tagged as questionable is Beitashour. He was in training, but working off to the side.
If Acosta, Rubio, and Bassett can all spend some time on the pitch, Colorado has a great chance of winning on Matchday 12. The last time Philadelphia visited Commerce City, they lost 3-0. Both squads are playing on short weeks, but the Rapids are playing at home in the altitude. Furthermore, the Philadephia Union had a lot of starters playing significant minutes in their US Open Cup match against Minnesota United. The Rapids did not. All signs point to Colorado having a great chance to win.
So, what will be the result of this Matchday 12 affair? When considering all factors, I think the Rapids win this match 2-0. All the momentum is on Colorado’s side. This team is laser-focused and I think that continues on Saturday. I expect that we will see goals from Lewis and Barrios, who have both been hot heading into this match. It will be a good, crucial win for Colorado.
Team NBS will be in the building for the match! Be sure to follow me on Twitter for live updates of the match. It might be a cloudy affair with a chance of rain. So, if you’re going to be there, plenty of warm clothes for you to grab here!
