This will be the third match between the two sides. We know that the first one in Commerce City was about as bad as it's been this season for the Rapids, a 1-3 loss. The Rapids got a bit of revenge with a 1-0 win in Austin back in July. Austin had perhaps their biggest win of their short time in MLS on Saturday night, 2-0 over the Galaxy. This appears to be a pivotal match for the Rapids given all the draws recently and they are on the road to face Seattle Sunday night. And with seven total matches in October and only two at home, it would seem that winning every home match becomes more important. Only prediction I have at this time, not a of fans in the stands.
Great minds think alike, I had just made a game of thread at the same time! I deleted mine. The rapids need to win for the reasons you stated plus national team absences coming up this month.
1-0 win, goal by Barrios. This should be a bigger win than that, but our struggles in front of goal leave me hesitant to predict anything more than the bare minimum. The Rapids control the game and get the 3 points, but its not the breakout game we're hoping for. I expect KC and Seattle to win tomorrow as well so the standings won't change. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2021/09/rapids-need-3-tomorrow-night.html
I dunno. I've got a good feeling going in to this one. Austin has been such a roller coaster of a team this year. Josh Wolff is smart enough to know that bunkering down with 10-11 players behind the ball is the way to stifle our offense. But he's also smart enough to know that bunkering down for 90min is not the way to appease their fanbase (who are rabidly hungry for wins and show up in massive numbers) or McConaughey. McConaughey is very active on supporting the team both on Twitter and in person. When teams come out and actually want to play (unlike our last several opponents who just sat back and defended in a low low block all game) we actually do a lot better. I'm looking for Austin to ride their momentum after beating LA and come out and try to win this one again like they did in our home opener. If you look at their schedule, they are mostly all high scoring - or hard fought - affairs. They want to play. They want to prove they belong in MLS and aren't FC Cincy 2.0 While we haven't been clinical in front of goal lately, we've also been forced to try to break down a low block with 8-9 of the outfield players within 30 yards of goal. Austin's roster isn't built to defend for 90, nor do they like to play that way. I think this has a good chance of turning in to a high scoring affair with the Rapids coming out on top 3-1. I think Austin scores first, and in the first 15min, on a counter attack. But it's all Rapids from there. Fraser is gonna have us hot and ready to go. Our players are healthy. Our players are hungry. I think we go out and get this one - and decisively.
Like everyone else, I feel good about this game. Rapids know they need a win. Rapids know they need to score a couple times to break the funk. The team remembers what happened at the Dick the last time Austin came to town. That being said, 0-0 tie. As Missouri says, "Show me." Looking out my window, the weather could be interesting. Good luck to the fans.
I think our ability to score goals likely hinges of if Barrios will be deployed on the wing, where he is most effective, or if Fraser continues to stubbornly try to (unsuccessfully) meme him into a center forward.
Sounds like Matt Besler will be out tonight: Matt Besler out vs COL due to concussion. How you feeling about the CB tandem of Cascante and Romaña?— Capital City Soccer (@CapCitySC) September 29, 2021 He’s started in 20 of their games this year, so there may be an opening in their already porous defense
I'm convinced by @TheWarmBurger 's arguments. Plus I watched Austin FC United City play on Sunday night, and they attacked. We are having trouble scoring though, so I'm going with 2-1 Rapids win.
Colorado Rapids vs Austin FC Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9PM ET) REF: Jon Freemon AR1: Chris Elliott AR2: Gjovalin Bori 4TH: Malik Badawi VAR: Younes Marrakchi AVAR: Craig Lowry
HEAVILY rotated squad tonight. With Seattle Sunday and then international duties right after - and a 7 game stretch in October, I understand the thought process. Plus, it may make for just the spark we need with guys like Mezquida, Lewis, and Bassett getting the start. They all will be hungry to perform tonight. Starting XI: William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar, Steven Beitashour, Jack Price (C), Nico Mezquida, Cole Bassett, Collen Warner, Lucas Esteves, Jonathan Lewis Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Andre Shinyashiki, Diego Rubio, Michael Barrios, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Younes Namli, Kellyn Acosta, Braian Galván
Rolling the dice thinking we can get a win tonight with backups and a win in Seattle on Sunday with starters. Need to get at least one of the two or Fraser will have some things to answer for.
I don't like the way this 3/5 man backline system is playing in recent days. Especially with Warner (who gives us nothing going forward) playing next to Price (who tends to sit deep), the team tends to split into 5 back and 5 up with nobody coordinating the attack in the middle. If neither Bassett nor Mezquida come into the center of the park to direct the attack, we'll again struggle to create any consistent threat.
Good work between Lewis, Mezquida, and Esteves (with a good dummy run) but Mez shoots earlier than he needs to and it's easily saved.
Just got home, saw highlights thanks to that stream, @pdid10 ! Looked to be all Rapids other than Abubakar’s push. Lucky that. But good goal! Go Pids!