Frisco, TX– It’s the final regular-season game for the Colorado Rapids (12-7-14, 9th West) as they travel to Texas to face FC Dallas (15-10-8, 2nd West). It could be the final game of the season for the Rapids, who are still not locked into their final position on the table. Dallas is already locked into the 2nd or 3rd seed. They will have at least two home playoff games. Colorado could finish as high as 7th and as low as 12th. 9th and above are in the playoffs, while 8th and 9th have to play a wild-card play-in game. As many decision days are, this is the most important game of the Rapids’ regular season. It just happens to be against one of the best teams in the West. It’s going to be a good one. Let’s take a look at the matchup.
When: Saturday, November 7th @ 5:00 p.m. MST
Where: Toyota Stadium
TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Designated Players Score; So Does Chicago’s
Georgu Minoungou had his best game of the season with two assists. One to Paxten Aaronson and the other to Morgan Whittaker. From an attacking standpoint, it was a decent night. It’s always good to see the DPs get on the scoresheet. It was nice to see that Minoungou had some end product as well. Colorado also had their best response after going down a goal, scoring just minutes after Chicago made it 2-1. That’s where the positives end for the Rapids.
It was an uncharacteristic loss for the Colorado Rapids, whose usually stout defense at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park looked lost, especially once Robert Lewandowski came onto the field. Matt Wells wasn’t happy with some players after the match, and while some of that could very well be true, it was the aggressive style of play that Wells implemented for the backline that cost the team in key moments.
The two center backs were tasked with man-marking their attackers at times. Including when they stepped deep into their own midfield. This caused holes in the backline that the Fire exploited multiple times. It was most reminiscent of the Matías Almeyda San Jose Earthquake days. Almeyda lived and died by the style of man-marking, and it was more exploited than useful for the Earthquakes. The Colorado Rapids faced that Earthquakes team in 2020 during the pandemic and dismantled them 5-0. Under Robin Fraser. It is a very dangerous game to play, and Wells and the Rapids paid the price by shipping off four goals.
With a win, the Rapids could have had the best home record in the entire Western Conference. A loss and a Vancouver win against Seattle the next day mean the Rapids sit at second. Still good, and it also shows how poor the team has been away from home. 14th in the West exactly, only better than Sporting KC. If SKC get a point and the Rapids lose on the last day, Colorado would finish with the worst away record in the West. CF Montreal are the only team the Rapids are guaranteed to be better than away from home.
Lineup Prediction:
Hansen / Thompson, Holding, Williams, Navarro / Ojedrian, Atencio, Frederick / Aaronson, Whittaker, Philip
Youssef Maziz is back and available. Wells will most likely be cautious with the midfielder, as he has already had a setback in his recovery from this injury. It is do or die time for the Colorado Rapids however, and he could be forced onto the field sooner than they would like if the game starts to go south.
It will be interesting to see if Abu Farkhi starts this match, as he has seemingly been ostracized after his poor start in Colorado. Luckily for the new striker, the last Rapids number nine also had a disappointing start to their Rapids career. Rafael Navarro was able to turn it around after his first half season. Hopefully it will be the same for Abu Farkhi.
Playoff Scenarios
Second Place FC Dallas
A pre-World Cup frustrating loss can be avenged as the Rapids lost 2-1 in an unusual fashion right before the long break. While the frustrations may have subsided, the loss is still on the record, and the Rapids have a chance to make it right in their eyes.
Dallas will be a difficult team to beat. Second in the West, and with something to play for, as they could fall to third if they lose and San Jose wins. It may not be enough for them to take this game as seriously as usual, and that would be to the Rapids’ benefit. Wells will have to be ready and get his guys ready as if Dallas will be playing their best guys. It will be interesting to see how much Dallas wants to win this match over giving some of their star players some needed rest.
It’s win-or-you-are-in for the Colorado Rapids. It’s the biggest game of the regular season for the Rapids. It all goes down on Decision Day at 5:00 p.m.
Prediction: Colorado can’t pull off Decision Day magic in Frisco, and they lose 3-1 and fail to make the playoffs in their first year under Wells.
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