FC Dallas continues their all-important three-game homestand on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids in the second MLS meeting between the clubs in 2016 and third meeting overall. FC Dallas is 1-0-1 against the Rapids having eliminated them in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in June and drawing them 1-1 in dramatic fashion at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in July. FC Dallas enters this match on 51 points with a 15-7-6 record, good for a seven-point lead at the top of the MLS and Western Conference standings. Colorado, who has two games in hand on FCD, is eight points back with 43 points and an 11-5-10 record.
Do or die
With just a 1-3-3 record in their last seven matches, Colorado has fallen from the top of the MLS standings and Saturday's match represents their best chance to move right back into the Supporters' Shield and top seed discussion. Sitting eight points behind FCD with eight matches left, a loss for Colorado would pretty much eliminate any chance of Pablo Mastroeni's side from catching Dallas, but a win would vault them right back into the mix.
Key Player for Colorado
Kevin Doyle - It doesn't take an expert to see where the Rapids succeed and where they struggle. Colorado leads the lead in fewest goals allowed with just 24 but they also have the fewest goals scored in the league with 28. The Rapids have not lost a game that Doyle has found the scoresheet this year, but with four goals and two assists, he needs to do it in Frisco if Colorado wants to find an all-important three points.
Key Match-ups
Mauro Diaz vs Sam Cronin - The FC Dallas midfield maestro has been great in recent weeks for Dallas, but at the heart of Colorado's success has been stellar d-mid play from Cronin. He will be tasked with slowing down the Argentine and whoever gets the better of that battle is likely to come out on top.
Maxi Urruti vs Tim Howard - FCD's Argentine forward takes a lot of shots and the American goalkeeping legend stops a lot of shots. FC Dallas is 9-0-1 this year when Urruti has a goal or an assist and he scored an extra time winner to knock the Rapids out of the Open Cup in June.
Projected Lineup
Goalkeeper: Tim Howard; Defenders: Meikel Williams, Axel Sjoberg, Bobby Burling, Eric Miller; Midfielders: Sam Cronin, Micheal Azira, Dillon Powers, Sebastien Le Toux, Shkëlzen Gashi; Forward: Kevin Doyle
Keys to three points
With the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup looming on Tuesday, it would be easy to look ahead for FC Dallas but they simply can't against a tough Rapids opponent. For FC Dallas, the key is to find the scoresheet first. The Rapids are not a team built to come back from deficits and if Dallas can score first it will go a long way to securing a hugely important result.
