NFL
By Keith Richards
Coming into Matchday 17, the Colorado Rapids are halfway through the season and on the brink. The Rapids were able to stop their six-match winless streak across all competitions with a draw against San Jose. However, the Rapids are still winless at home in league play. They will be on the road on Saturday, but health and rest could be the key to Colorado finally gaining some ground.
When Matchday 17 begins, the Rapids enter as 13th in the Western Conference with 13 points. With the new MLS Playoff format, seeds 8-9 qualify for the playoff via wild card matches. Though it would be a huge mountain to climb, and things would need to work in their favor, Colorado is only six points outside of one of those wild card spots. The key to gaining ground, as mentioned above, is health and rest. For the first time in weeks, the Rapids have both.
The Player Availability Report for Matchday 17 is the best it’s looked in weeks. Not only did the team have its first full training in weeks, but they had multiple players training as well. Barrios, Galvan, Priso, Bassett, and Rubio were full participants in training Thursday. In addition, attacker Darren Yapi has returned from international duty at the U-20 World Cup and should be available for Saturday as well.
The biggest name from that list of full participants is Diego Rubio. Rubio’s consistency, creativity, and ability to finish have been needed with all the time he’s missed this season. It will be the first time in several matches that the full attack will be at Robin Fraser’s disposal. In the time that the team was stretched extremely thin, Colorado played nine matches in 28 days.
Brendan Ploen asked Fraser about the team’s mentality after playing two games a week for five weeks and finally getting a full week of training. Robin responded, “You feel much more prepared mentally and physically after a stretch like that… I feel like there’s a pep in our step and I’m certainly excited about training after a week of training, getting some guys back. With all that, we know we have to play well, but we’ve put ourselves in a position where we can do well (in Orlando).”
Without question, if the Rapids don’t start to turn their season around on Matchday 17, then the season might officially be lost. As of now, it’s on the brink, but a win over Orlando could open many doors for Colorado. Heading into Matchday 17, in order, Salt Lake, Houston, Portland, and Kansas City are ahead of the Rapids. Except for Salt Lake, all other teams have tough matches ahead of them. Three points on Saturday will be essential for the Rapids.
The key is Diego Rubio. Whatever time he has on the pitch on Matchday 17, Colorado needs to take full advantage of. How much time will be on the pitch? Ploen asked Robin about that as well. Fraser responded, “Eh, I have to sort that out with the trainers, I don’t know that yet. But it’s really encouraging to see him back and to see him in training, obviously, you see some of the quality he brings. Also, the same for Braian Galvan, and Mikey Barrios. To get guys back in training fully, I think is really huge.”
So, what will be the result of Matchday 17? It feels like it will be a win for the Rapids. Orlando City is a tough team, but I feel like Colorado has been tough. Iron sharpens iron. The Rapids will have fresh legs. Except for Moise Bombito (out for red card suspension), the defense will be fresh. With Rubio and Yapi back, I think the attack will be hungry. Rubio, Bassett, and Barrios goals will lead the way to a 3-1 Rapids.
Follow me on Twitter as I will tweet updates throughout the match. In addition to new Rapids gear, be sure to get your Women’s World Cup gear as well. It’s just around the corner! As always, plenty of Soccer content on our site as well.
