Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 20
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park — Commerce City
July 14 - 9 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)
An emotional, if not improbable comeback in a 2-2 draw against LAFC has appeared to spur on the Houston Dynamo, who head to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park off a 3-0 win over Minnesota United FC.
The Colorado Rapids were feeling good about back-to-back wins and three games without defeat until they dropped their last two games — both away from home — including a 2-1 loss at Montreal on the weekend.
- Senderos named to MLS Team of the Week after three-goal week
- Hudson on leadership within team, prep for Houston
- Badji: It's a new week and a new opportunity
Colorado Rapids
There was a late Dominique Badji goal that made things interesting for Colorado (4-11-3), but the Rapids were punished for conceding twice in a minute with Saphir Taider scoring both goals for the Impact Saturday at Stade Saputo.
The Rapids are hoping for a better result in the second meeting this season against Houston, with the Dynamo winning 2-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium last month. Tomas Martinez and Mauro Manotas scored six minutes apart late in the first half of that one.
“We had two or three good performances and good results prior to the start of all that travel and I think what we need to do is put that week behind us and look forward to Saturday,” Anthony Hudson said. “It’s a game we’re looking forward to. Hopefully we can get everyone fit. We just need to put that behind us.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: M - Johan Blomberg
- International duty: None
- Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Marlon Hairston (undisclosed injury)
Projected Starting XI
(3-4-2-1, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Kortne Ford, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne — Shkelzen Gashi, Sam Nicholson — Dominique Badji
Houston Dynamo
Wilmer Cabrera has apparently found the magic formula for positive results — win a corner and let Philippe Senderos do the rest. After scoring late against LAFC, the central defender struck for a brace before Alberth Elis put to bed a home win over the Loons on Saturday.
Senderos was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for his efforts.
“We knew that they’ve been playing really well,” Wilmer Cabrera said. “And Darwin [Quintero] is a very talented player. It’s no secret so we needed to do a good job on him. Today the whole team was very solid, starting with Joe [Willis] in goal. He was very sharp when he had to be sharp.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: M - Tomas Martinez, F - Alberth Elis
- International duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad injury), F - Mac Steeves (left hip injury), M/D - Andrew Wenger (left calf injury), M - Arturo Alvarez (right hip injury)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Adolfo Machado, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Philippe Senderos, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Darwin Ceren, Tomas Martinez — Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Romell Quioto
All-Time Series
- Overall: Colorado Rapids 11 wins, 37 goals … Houston Dynamo 9 wins, 34 goals … 7 draws
- At Colorado: Rapids 8 wins, 19 goals … Dynamo 3 wins, 10 goals … 3 draws
- Last meeting at Colorado: Colorado Rapids 3, Houston Dynamo 1 (July 1, 2017)
Officials
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Jose Da Silva
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
