No that is not just the cold wind of the Rockies blowing into Commerce City. It is D.C. United (13-10-5, 44 points,) the former leaders of the Eastern Conference. After having led the East for the entire season, the suddenly second placers find themselves in a must-win match against the Colorado Rapids (8-10-9, 33 points) on Saturday night (9pm EST).

If D.C. are to snap their three game losing streak they will need to overcome history. Since 1999 the club has just one win when playing on the road against Colorado, a 2010 1-0 win. The Rapids hold 10 to 6 advantage all-time at home against D.C. with 3 ties.

Despite having spent the majority of the season in the cellar the Rapids come into this match as being the hotter of the two teams. A mid-week 2-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps may have snapped Colorado’s three game winning streak but it does not seem to have snapped their resolve.

Pablo Mastroeni inducted into the Colorado Rapids Hall of Fame July 25th 2014

“It’s important that we start right,” said Colorado Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni after their loss on Wednesday. “It’s important that we go there with the same kind of mentality and really take the game against D.C. in the early stage.”

If there is perhaps one reason for D.C. United’s recent decline it is their mental lapses early in matches. The club has allowed eight goals in the first fifteen minutes in games this season which is the highest in Major League Soccer. Although the Rapids are not the most prolific goal-scoring squad in MLS (their 25 goals scored is the lowest in the league) Mastroeni seems to have finally found their scoring touch. The club has scored at least a goal in eight of their ten matches during the second half of the season after having been shutout nine times during the first half.

The difference stems from the midfield. After having faced immense criticism from their coach earlier in the season midfielders Dillon Powers and Dillon Serna seem to have regained their form from two years ago which saw the Rapids sneak into the playoffs. Against Sporting Kansas City last week both players looked more relaxed on the pitch, a mentality which is integral for midfielders to orchestrate an attack. Serna in particular will test United center-backs Bobby Boswell and Steve Birnbaum. The United States under-23 Men’s National Team player likes to drive directly at center-backs either with the intention of taking a shot at the top of the penalty box or to open space for forward Kevin Doyle ( 4 goals).

Although there are no easy answers to United’s early defensive deficiencies the club seems to lack patience early on. United defensive midfielder Perry Kitchen has largely been anonymous during D.C.’s losing streak either not getting the ball consistently or being asked to support Birnbaum on a blown coverage. Adding Markus Halsti to the lineup should help alleviate some of Kitchen’s work. But if Kitchen wants to be considered one of the top midfielders in MLS he will need to take control of this match and force the Rapids to change their plans.

That might be easier said than done. Mastroeni has built a defensive system very similar to the style of play that made him one of the most feared backs in MLS. The Rapids like to press teams early on in the built up of their attack using tight markings and closing down passing lanes. Look for Powers and Marcelo Sarvas to play integral roles at shutting down the D.C. midfield.

Colorado may have an advantage in terms of physical strength on the defense but the club lacks pace along the back four. Bobby Burling, Marc Burch, James Riley, and Sean St. Ledger have all proven their value this season with their hard-nosed defensive style. But the Whitecaps showed in their 2-0 victory that they can be beat on the counter-attack by players with pace. United midfielder Nick De Leon has had a breakout 2015 campaign by simply making effective diagonal runs to disrupt the opponent’s defense. Look for D.C. United coach Ben Olsen to use De Leon wide to open up space for Alvaro Saborio inside.

D.C. United’s Fabian Espindola makes a breakaway against Ethan White of the Philadelphia Union (Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography)

Saturday night’s match will also see the return of Fabian Espindola for United. Espindola has been out of action for the past month with a knee issue a persistent problem that has plagued his entire 2015 campaign. Olsen may opt to keep Espindola on the pitch given that they are playing at elevation. But it is evident that having Espindola up top with Saborio is D.C.’s best attacking option pair. When healthy Espindola can break up center-backs and give Saborio seams to operate inside the attacking half. The former Real Salt Lake pair are very familiar with the confines of their former Rocky Mountain Cup rivals and should use that experience in playing in difficult conditions to their advantage.

The Rapids may be coming into Saturday’s match with a bit of confidence. But given that D.C. is coming off of two humbling losses the pressure is on their players to produce immediately. Going into a difficult situation in Colorado against one of the top defenses in the league may make three points difficult but a draw is not out of the question.