It’s the
second home game for the Colorado Rapids and it seems like it has been a month
since the last one. The first home game
lived up to the hype, packed tailgate, special guest, great beer, wicked good atmosphere,
and a dramatic win to end the evening. Three
long weeks and one away game later the burgundy boys will play host to Toronto
FC; who, if you need a reminder, have Clint Irwin and Drew Moor on their
roster. Granted names like Bradley,
Altidore, and Giovinco are a bit bigger and pose a larger threat to the Rapids.
I do not think that Drew and Clint will want to make an big impression.
Games that
follow international games are tricky as far as trying to pick out the starting
XI, or who do you put in your fantasy lineup.
Key players for your club may have got a handful of minutes and may not
get the start 3 days later for league action.
TFC’s Michael Bradley got the most minutes out of everyone, so it’s possible
he may not start. It already has been
said that Jozy Altidore will start which would put Sebastian Giovinco out on
the left wing.
As for who
Coach Pablo plans to start, that’s anyone’s guess. With the absence of Kevin Doyle due to a gash
on his shin that needed plastic surgery, there are a few options as far as who
is the next man up. Shkelzen Gashi seems
to be the popular choice, a good one too.
Gashi logged some time with the Albanian National team but could be fit
for the start, but not up top. Luis
Solignac ought to be the next man up, for the top spot in Pablo’s 4-2-3-1. While
he may not have bagged a goal donning Burgundy just yet, he may very well get
his chance against TFC Saturday night.
Marco Pappa
came on as a sub in both Guatemala v USA matches’ and he could be expected to start. Eric Miller and Dillon Serna are fresh, having
not played in the last game of the two game international stretch. Ugandan midfielder Michael Azira got quality
time in Africa, and if anyone misses a start against TCF because of
International duty, it could be him.
By the
numbers TCF and the Rapids are fairly even.
Both are 1-1-1 so far this season. While TFC has been able to score more
goals, they have had to in order to make up for a lacking defense. As far as the
Colorado Rapids, we have one of the best defenses. Should Azira not get the start
then I expect to see Bobby Burling return to the starting XI and our new fan
favorite, Jared Watts, will move to the center of the midfield. This isn’t a bad option considering Watts has
been great at shutting down certain guys and the Rapids are going to need someone
in front of the back four who can break up a play.
The last
time the Rapids bagged the all-important 3 points against Eastern Conference
Toronto FC was in 2013. The burgundy
boys are 5-8-1 all-time against The Reds. What may play a part in the match is
that between the 76th and 90th minute the Rapids have
scored 5 goals to TFC’s 0. Marco Pappa should
be vital to the game as well, while he may be a part of both Colorado goals
this season and has scored against TFC in the past.
This matchup
has all the ingredients for a choppy game.
A midfield grudge match and individual efforts could separate the
winners from the losers in this one.
Remember
the game is at 6pm this week. The
scheduling change was a courtesy to Toronto due to the time zone
difference. That means the tailgate
starts at 3pm. If you can’t make it to
the game the broadcast will be on Altitude 2.
Predicted
starting XI: Zac MacMath, Mekeil Williams, Bobby Burling, Axel Sjoberg, Marc
Burch, Sam Cronin, Jared Watts, Marco Pappa, Dillon Powers, Shkelzen Gashi,
Luis Solignac
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