COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The good news for the Colorado Rapids after a humbling midweek thrashing in the CONACAF Champions League? Their opponents this weekend took a worse beating than they did.
Both the Rapids and Toronto enter their matchup at BMO Field on Saturday (1:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online) on the heels of conceding four goals each against impressive Mexican teams in the CCL on earlier this week, and in need of a quick rebound.
The Rapids were hammered 4-1 at home by Santos Laguna on Tuesday night, while Toronto traveled to Mexico City for a Wednesday night game against Pumas and were blasted for four first-half goals from the hosts en route to a humbling 4-0 loss.
But Toronto’s struggles certainly don’t ease the ongoing woes for Colorado, most of which fall on the offensive side of the field. The club has scored just one goal in their last three games across all competitions, and they’ve been shut out each of the last two times they’ve stepped on the field for a league game.
Both of those losses – 2-0 against the Chicago Fire on Aug. 27 and 1-0 to the LA Galaxy on Sept. 9 – came on the road, where the Rapids are 5-6-4 this season.
Midfielder Brian Mullan scored the lone goal for Colorado against Santos, but he’s hardly the attacking option on which the club wants to rely. The strike pairing of Omar Cummings and Sanna Nysassi has fizzled in recent weeks after a hot start, leaving the Rapids to wonder what they’re missing.
"Sanna looked bright, Omar looked bright, but the final cross, pass or choice of finish just wasn't there tonight,” head coach Gary Smith said after the Santos loss.
Cummings pronounced himself fit on Tuesday after going a full 90 minutes for the first time in several games. He is likely to start up top against Toronto, possibly with Caleb Folan, who was rested during the week.
Nyassi and Macoumba Kandji, who both played a full 90 on Tuesday, are other forward options against the Reds.
Newly signed defender Miguel Comminges, meanwhile, traveled with the Rapids, but is expected to be on the bench with the usual back four of Kosuke Kimura, Marvell Wynnne, Tyrone Marshall and Drew Moor available.
