FC Dallas vs Colorado Rapids Preview by Chris Brown
Colorado Rapids finish their longest run of away games this season by traveling to Dallas to take on the Western Conference and Supporter’s Shield leaders.
FC Dallas currently sit on 51 points, seven points ahead of second place Real Salt Lake in the West as well as seven points ahead of first place New York City FC in the East.
These two clubs have met once in MLS play this season, a 1-1 draw in Colorado. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Colorado were the Supporter’s Shield and Western Conference leaders for much of the season but have seen their sparkling form from the first half of the season unravel since the all-star break. Colorado have lost back to back road games against Real Salt Lake and New England Revolution and a trip to Dallas to take on the league leaders isn’t exactly the tonic Pablo Mastroeni would have wanted to get the Rapids back on track.
These two sides have met twice already this season, once in league play and once in the U.S. Open Cup. It took extra time to separate the two teams in the Cup but Dallas advanced 2-1 over Colorado and the MLS meeting between these two sides ended in a 1-1 draw in Denver.
For Oscar Pareja’s team the game plan will be business as usual. Mauro Diaz will continue to pull the strings in midfield for Dallas and he’ll be looking to pick out Michael Barrios who leads the league leaders with eight goals. Diaz has 14 assists on the season as quietly been one of the most impressive and consistent players in MLS this season.
Maximiliano Urruti, who has seven goals on the season, will sit on the top of Pareja’s 4-4-3 formation and will look to cause the Colorado back line trouble with his clever runs between defenders. Throughout the season Urruti has had superb service from Diaz, Kellyn Acosta and Fabian Castillo, if that service continues on Saturday night, Dallas has a chance to become the first team in MLS to have officially booked a place in the playoffs.
For Colorado the key to this match will be creating chances, something they’ve been poor at over recent weeks. Earlier this season the combination of a stout defense and opportunistic goal scoring was enough to propel Colorado to the top of the league, but it seems like the rest of MLS has figured out how to kill the Rapid attack before it starts.
Kevin Doyle will hope to spark the Rapid attack against the league leaders. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Colorado likes to build their attack through the center of the pitch, using Sam Cronin and Michael Azira as pivots and as an attacking base and working through Jermaine Jones, Marco Pappa and Kevin Doyle to create chances. Since the all-star break Colorado’s opponents have taken away the avenue through the center of the park and forced the Rapids to try and launch their attacks from the wings.
Marlon Hairston has had some successful outings playing on the right wing and Shkelzen Gashi provides a direct threat from the left wing, but Colorado needs to find a genuine and consistent threat from the wing positions to open up the center of the park again.
Jermaine Jones is still out with a quad injury, but Colorado will have all their international players back after they were heavily depleted against New England due to the International window. That will make the Rapids more of a threat, but it may not be enough to stop the leagues best team.
One thing that Pablo Mastroeni’s men have going for them is that Dallas plays in the U.S. Open Cup Final on Tuesday night. With a trophy so close for Dallas is there a chance that Oscar Pareja’s squad have an eye already looking ahead to that match against the Revolution?
FC Dallas have made Toyota Stadium a fortress this season with a record of 10-0-4. Meanwhile, the Rapids have struggled on the road all season long, with a record of 2-5-6 when playing away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It seems like a tall order for Colorado to try and leave Frisco with all three points but a draw on the road against the league leaders might help Colorado right the ship as the MLS season enters the home stretch.
