Two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference meet Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park when the Colorado Rapids play host to FC Dallas. The Rapids are undefeated in five league games, coming off a 2-0 home win vs. Chivas USA, though they were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup in a midweek loss. FC Dallas returned to their winning ways last weekend in a 1-0 home win against San Jose, then advanced to the fourth round of the Open Cup following a midweek victory.
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REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): George Gansner; AR2 (opposite): Baboucarr Jallow; 4th: Tyler Ploeger
MLS Career: 13 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 4; pens: 6
DISABLED LIST: COL: Jaime Castrillon, Diego Calderón, Matt Pickens
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: COL: Hendry Thomas, Shane O’Neill
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: COL: Shane O’Neill, Dillon Serna (both USA U-20) … DAL: Blas Perez (Panama); Raul Fernandez (Peru); Richard Sanchez (Mexico U-20); Kellyn Acosta (USA U-20)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (57 meetings): Rapids 19 wins (1 shootout), 69 goals … FC Dallas 28 wins (2 shootout), 93 goals … Ties 10
AT COLORADO (27 meetings): Rapids 13 wins (0 shootout), 39 goals … FC Dallas 8 wins (0 shootout), 37 goals … Ties 6
FUTURE MATCH: 9/14: Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas, 7 p.m. MT
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. An 11th-minute goal from Jackson gave FC Dallas a 1-0 victory as the clubs met on the opening weekend of the season in Frisco.
- Each team won away from home in the series a year ago, among their three meetings. FC Dallas won at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the first time since 2007, with their 2-1 win July 14. The Rapids won at FC Dallas Stadium for the first time since 2008 with their 2-0 triumph in the first encounter.
- The teams did of course meet in MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto, an own goal in extra time giving the Rapids a 2-1 victory and their first league title.
- Coaches record: Schellas Hyndman vs. COL: P13 W5 L4 D4 … Oscar Pareja vs. DAL: P4 W1 L3 D0
LAST MEETING (MLS)
3/2: DAL 1, COL 0 (Jackson 11)
- The game's only goal came in the 11th minute. Dallas playmaker David Ferreira launched a speculative long ball from inside his own half, but Rapids goalkeeper Steward Ceus failed to claim it after leaving his box, leaving Jackson with the simplest of finishes into an empty net.
- FC DALLAS (4-2-3-1): Raul Fernandez - Zach Loyd, George John, Matt Hedges (Stephen Keel 90), Jair Benitez (Michel 30) - Je-Vaughn Watson, Andrew Jacobson - Jackson, David Ferreira, Fabian Castillo (Bobby Warshaw 79) - Kenny Cooper.
- COLORADO RAPIDS (4-1-4-1): Steward Ceus - Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Diego Calderon, Brian Mullan - Hendry Thomas - Atiba Harris, Pablo Mastroeni, Dillon Powers (Kamani Hill 75), Kevin Harbottle (Tony Cascio 62) - Deshorn Brown (Andre Akpan 83)
COLORADO RAPIDS
The Colorado Rapids extended their undefeated run to five games, easing to a 2-0 win against Chivas USA on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids are in fifth place in the Western Conference with 19 points from 13 matches.
LAST MATCH
- The Rapids were in front just 11 minutes into the match. Following a string of one-touch passes, left back Chris Klute’s pinpoint cross into the box connected with a sliding Atiba Harris, who slotted past a helpless Dan Kennedy in the Chivas goal.
- The Rapids sealed the result in the 78th minute. Fullback Brian Mullan’s through ball found Deshorn Brown speeding down the right flank, and the rookie’s cross into the box found Nathan Sturgis open in front of net for an easy finish.
- Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja made two changes to the team that reached a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium. Brian Mullan came into the team for the suspended Shane O'Neill, and Edson Buddle started in place of Danny Mwanga.
- COLORADO RAPIDS (4-2-3-1): Clint Irwin - Brian Mullan, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Christopher Klute - Pablo Mastroeni (Kamani Hill 83), Nathan Sturgis - Atiba Harris (Danny Mwanga 73), Martin Rivero (Dillon Powers 44), Deshorn Brown - Edson Buddle.
TEAM NEWS
- The Rapids extended their overall undefeated streak to five games with their third shutout in the last four games and the fifth overall for goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
- “We’ve gradually been building off of solid performances. We had two good road games the last two weeks and I think we just built off that,” said midfielder Nathan Sturgis. “We know we’re at home this week and the next two weeks so we really have to kind of step it up a little bit and initiate the game more and go after the three points.”
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Irwin became one of three goalkeepers to begin their MLS careers with shutouts in five of their first 10 MLS starts, joining Kevin Hartman (1997-1998, LA Galaxy) and Henry Ring (2002-2004, Chicago Fire).
- “I think we set this team defensively first. That was one of the weaknesses we had last year. The first thing that we put into preseason, the thought that we put in their minds was that we need to defend better,” said Pareja. “We will score goals. This team will create options. Last year, we created a lot of options all the time, but we need to be solid defensively.”
- Before last weekend’s game, Rapids midfielder Nathan Sturgis had scored one goal in 84 league appearances, during the 2010 season with Seattle. He has since scored two goals in as many weeks with his goal vs. Chivas.
- “I think Nathan is one of those personalities on the team that reflects what we are living inside the locker room. He’s a guy that when he didn’t play he kept working, didn’t say anything, and push, push, push. He knew that there was going to be an opportunity for him some time and he waited for it,” said Pareja. “And now he’s taken it and is embracing the opportunity and making our job very difficult now when the other guys come [back from injury].”
- Rookie striker Deshorn Brown collected his first two-assist game as a professional, and now has four in MLS play. He also has a pair of goals.
- “I think with Deshorn [Brown], Atiba [Harris] and Edson [Buddle] we’ve got a lot of speed up there,” said Sturgis. “I think Deshorn was causing them problems getting in behind; Atiba was getting in behind. I think with both goals we were able to use that speed to get behind their defense and send in a couple good crosses.”
- There was an injury concern coming out of the match, as Martín Rivero was forced to leave before halftime with a foot injury. It has been diagnosed as a soft tissue injury.
- "I'm very happy because I had a good scare during the game," Rivero said. "When I heard the news that it wasn't anything major it was a relief - it would have been very unfortunate had I broken it again. So now I'm a little calmer and already thinking about recovering from this pain I have and getting back to the team in the best way possible."
- On Tuesday, the Rapids were dumped out of the U.S. Open Cup in the third round in a 3-1 loss to Orlando City SC of USL PRO. Sporting KC property Dom Dwyer scored twice for Orlando City; Kamani Hill scored the Colorado goal.
- Here’s the Rapids team: Stew Ceus (sent off 56'), Marvell Wynne, Shane O'Neill, German Mera, Anthony Wallace, Nick LaBrocca (Atiba Harris 72'), Dillon Powers, Kevin Harbottle (Clint Irwin 58'), Tony Cascio, Kamani Hill (Deshorn Brown 66'), Danny Mwanga.
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas returned home and returned to their winning ways, getting the game’s only goal for a victory against the San Jose Earthquakes in Frisco. FCD sit atop the Western Conference and the MLS overall table with 27 points from 13 matches.
LAST MATCH
- The game's lone goal came in the 33rd minute. A cross from the left was cleared directly to David Ferreira, who then carried the ball 40 yards upfield before passing to forward Fabian Castillo. He then cut around San Jose’s Jason Hernandez and curled a well-placed left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.
- FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez had a brilliant night, stopping all six shots he faced, including a point-blank stop on Chris Wondolowski in the 81st minute.
- FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman made four changes to the team that fell 4-2 to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Walker Zimmerman and George John formed the central defense partnership in place of London Woodberry and Matt Hedges, David Ferreira came back into the side for Eric Hassli and Fabian Castillo started in place of the suspended Blas Perez.
- FC DALLAS (4-2-3-1): Raul Fernandez - Zach Loyd, Walker Zimmerman, George John, Jair Benitez - Je-Vaughn Watson, Michel - Jackson (Matt Hedges 86), David Ferreira, Fabian Castillo (Bobby Warshaw 83) - Kenny Cooper (Eric Hassli 68).
TEAM NEWS
- FC Dallas extended their home undefeated streak to 12 games, matching the longest in club history, set June 9, 2009-May 8, 2010.
- FC Dallas have also lost just once in their last 11 games in league play. Their 27 points lead MLS, two ahead of Eastern Conference leader New York Red Bulls.
- Fabian Castillo scored his second goal of the season, his first since March 23 when he netted against Real Salt Lake.
- "It was important that the guys defended to the end, as we had to defend to get a result. I was nervous when they were pressing late in the second half but now that we accomplished what we set out to do,” Castillo said. “Let’s not think about it anymore because the important thing is we won.”
- Walker Zimmerman made his first professional start, coming into central defense and playing a part on the FCD goal. He had made two appearances off the substitutes’ bench totaling six minutes.
- “[Zimmerman] made some good choices, good passes, he won a lot of balls in the air, he was physical, but that ball in particular,” Hyndman said. “I think the more we see him, that’s going to be one of his strengths, that he makes good decisions. A lot of people under pressure might kick it out, but he looked to see where that next ball was going.”
- George John made his return to the starting lineup in central defense after missing three games, after being forced off with an injury at halftime of the April 27 game vs. Vancouver.
- “Walker [Zimmerman] and George [John] were under a lot of pressure with balls in the air, a lot of services, far post balls, second balls,”said Hyndman. “Raul [Fernandez] did a fantastic job, making some very key saves. All in all, it was a good win for us at home against a very good team.”
- On Tuesday, FC Dallas advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win against the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Blas Perez scored in the 54th minute, then Matt Hedges scored 12 minutes later to seal the FCD victory.
- Here’s the FC Dallas team: Chris Seitz, Jair Benitez, Walker Zimmerman (Matt Hedges 41), George John, London Woodberry, Fabian Castillo, Bobby Warshaw (Ramon Nunez 85), Michel, Eric Hassli (David Ferreira 73), Blas Perez.
