7:30 pm on Altitude if you aren't going to be at DSGP in person. Rapids on the three game winning streak in all competitions. Back to MLS play after a couple of weeks since the come from behind victory over the Crew. Both teams appear to be shorthanded on the back line due to injuries.
From the Portland Mercury on the match preview: The Timbers got a big win over FC Dallas last weekend, but they lost both of their starting center backs to injury in the process. Roy Miller trained late this week and could be available for Sunday, but Liam Ridgewell is out. If Miller can't go as well, the players who finished the Dallas game at center back — natural midfielders Lawrence Olum and Amobi Okugo — will start in defense against the Rapids.The ripple effect from those moves would be a hole in central midfield, where David Guzman is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. http://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2017/06/16/19090745/timbers-v-colorado-match-preview
1-1 draw, goal by Doyle. This won't be pretty for the Rapids but they'll get the point. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2017/06/back-to-league-action-after-break.html
I was wondering if this is going to be one of those games where Portland has the ball 75% of the time, so I went looking for season possession stats. Shockingly the Rapids are not near the bottom; they're 11th. The Timbers are 9th. I haven't seen the Timbers this season, so I'm not sure how they play. But despite those stats, I expect most of the game to be spent in the Rapids' defensive half. Oh, and as for the Timbers missing their centerbacks. In most games, would the Rapids even notice if a team was playing without centerbacks?
I'd rep this a dozen more times if I could. In one phrase, you captured the frustration of this season.
Adding to the randomness of this match: REF: BALDOMERO TOLEDO AR1: Frank Anderson AR2: Jonathan Johnson 4TH: Nima Saghafi or the all-anagram version: REF: OLE ROOM DEADBOLT AR1: Snark Radon Fen AR2: A no-shot Jan 'n John 4TH: Famish Again The Toledo factor is usually good for a goal somewhere, but darned if I have a clue which team it favors here.
Look who's back!#Rapids96 | #COLvPOR pic.twitter.com/OAxffkVJ9U— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 17, 2017
Not a fan of Watts in the midfield over Powers, or Da Fonte starting over Miller. Hoping for the best.
Let's get #ThreePoints! Bench for #COLvPOR: Miller, Williams, Powers, Gordon, Serna, MacMath, Calvert. pic.twitter.com/8FOAweu7rg— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 18, 2017
It might be nice if somebody would at least track Adi and Asprilla, even if they aren't going to mark them.,
The Rapids are so intent on jamming the defensive center that they are letting Portland run wild up the sides.
I tuned in about 30' or so in. Rapids have no idea if Portland's backs are any good based on what I've seen.
I'm in Durango at a B&B and have no way to watch. That line up looks like Pablo pulled names out of a hat... WTF?
HT, nil-1. Positives: + Howard. He's had to make lonely saves because of the complete lack of defense. + Pablo adjusted the defense midway through the half, spreading to try to shut down Portland's wide-open touchline runs. Colorado's straight-up 4-4-2 looks good, but when they flex to a 3-4-3 or 3-5-1-1, things go very badly. Negatives: - Badji's way off his game with the ball at his feet tonight. He had two stellar chances within a minute and overthought both of them. - The Rapids seem to be able to shut down only one Portland attacking player at a time. Blanco, Adi and Asprilla in particular are running wild, and Colorado's back line either drops off much too far or ball-watches. - six shots, two on frame, and one other shot resulted in a throw-in. Ugh. - lots of useless passing to nobody in particular for no effect