Colorado Rapids travel to Yankee Stadium to take on Patrick Viera’s New York City FC on Saturday afternoon.
This match will be the first time that Colorado has played in Yankee Stadium as the two sides only met once, in Colorado, last season.
The matchup pits second place in the Western Conference and Supporter Shield standings against first place in the Eastern Conference.
Midfielder Sam Cronin will need to contribute in attack with Jermaine Jones questionable (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Patrick Viera’s New York side have featured one of the most dynamic offenses in MLS this season but they’ll match up against the best defense in MLS in Pablo Mastroeni’s Rapids. To make matters difficult for New York, the team’s attacking focal point, David Villa, will be suspended for the match. Villa leads MLS in goals in 2016 having scored 13 times this campaign.
New York will also be without midfielder Frederico Bravo, defender RJ Allen and defender Ethan White, all due to suspension. The absence of Allen is particularly troublesome. Allen has 5 assists for NYCFC this season and has been useful starting attacks from the back.
Colorado may still be without midfielder Jermaine Jones who is listed as questionable with a knee injury. Jones has been supremely important to the Rapid attack this year providing calmness and leadership in midfield while also creating and scoring goals for Colorado.
The Colorado attack has stalled without Jones in midfield this season and if Jones isn’t available Pablo Mastroeni and Assistant Head Coach John Spencer will need to find an attacking spark elsewhere.
Shkelzen Gashi and Kevin Doyle will come out hungry and playing against one of Major League Soccer’s leakiest defenses will excite them, especially as there are key defenders missing for New York. The question for Gashi and Doyle will be where will their service be coming from?
New York will be without lead leading scorer David Villa due to suspension.
Marco Pappa will be a creative force for Colorado but the Guatemalan midfielder can linger on the ball too long, allowing defenses to set up and prepare for attacks. Pappa excels in taking players on one-on-one, not necessarily playing great passes over the top and in behind defenses. Without those balls in behind the opposing defense, the Rapid attack becomes tame and predictable.
Colorado has drawn six out of their last nine matches and it seems like after the Rapids bright start to the season, the rest of MLS has figured out how to bottle up the Rapid attack. Expect New York to try and replicate that defensive model by closing down the middle of the park quickly, clogging the midfield and forcing Colorado to play the ball to the wings. From the wings Colorado’s passing is too slow and becomes labored. Without pace in passing, Colorado becomes predictable in attack.
For New York’s offense to break down the leagues best defense Andrea Pirlo will need to be at his very best. Colorado’s giant center back Axel Sjoberg has done an excellent job cutting out dangerous balls all season long, but Colorado has yet to come up against a player with the precision and vision of Pirlo. If the Italian Maestro can find space and time in midfield, look for him to pick out attackers making runs in behind the Rapid defense.
Rapid keeper Tim Howard will have to be sharp defending set pieces. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Set pieces will also be important for New York on the day. Colorado has proven to be vulnerable from dead ball situations in 2016 and with a foot like Pirlo’s sending the ball in, it’s not difficult to imagine New York snatching a goal from a set piece.
